Pak Lah's Compendium of Flowery Slogans and Quotes

I Will Not Stay Longer Than I Should, Says Abdullah

2008-04-08T00:10:00.000-07:00

2 signs of resignation soon? Perth is imminent.

April 07, 2008 22:23 PM

I Will Not Stay Longer Than I Should, Says Abdullah

KOTA KINABALU, April 7 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday he would not stay longer than he should as prime minister.

"I would retire one day but I could not leave in this kind of political scenario. I will retire one day, of course. I'm not going to stay longer than I should.

"But there are certain things that I like to do now. I cannot leave at a time when the party is in this condition.

I cannot leave at a time when we are preparing for the implementation of development projects. We have already promised the people. We will do it.

"I'm not going to stay on for years. Certainly not," the prime minister told reporters after meeting Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders here.

Abdullah was asked whether he had a date in mind on when he would retire after having named Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as his successor.

The prime minister said Sunday Najib was his successor and that they had no problems between them.

On naming Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as his successor, Abdullah said in jest: "Of course.

Are you in doubt that you have to ask me again?" "Datuk Seri Najib understands me more than you can understand me. I am not going to stay on for years. Certainly not," he added.

Abdullah also thanked Sabahans for having given the mandate to the BN in last month's general election.

"I wish to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations and thanks to everyone and the chief minister (Datuk Seri Musa Aman) for the cooperation in the BN which led to the big victory in the general election," he said.

Leaders of the eight Sabah BN component parties had expressed their appreciation to Abdullah for having listened to their views and having agreed to consider their requests made at the meeting with him.

They also expressed support for Abdullah as the BN chairman.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia's government blueprint for political succession grows clearer
The Associated Press
Published: April 7, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has endorsed his deputy as his likely successor, despite insisting that he has no plans to resign soon following an election fiasco.

Abdullah identified Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak on Sunday as his probable successor in line with the ruling party's tradition of political succession. It was the first time Abdullah has clearly identified a successor.

On Monday, Najib thanked Abdullah, saying he was "touched and grateful" for the endorsement. He made his remarks to reporters who sought his reaction, according to an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.

The comments by Malaysia's top two politicians could help ease uncertainty in the ruling United Malays National Organization party about its future leadership. Most senior officials have pledged loyalty to Abdullah, but some members are openly calling on him to step down.

Abdullah is facing much of the blame for crippling setbacks suffered by his National Front ruling coalition in March 8 general elections. The coalition, led by Abdullah's Malay party, lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament as well as control of five state legislatures.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has led demands for Abdullah's resignation, while a ruling party lawmaker, Razaleigh Hamzah, has indicated he will try to challenge Abdullah for the party presidency in balloting scheduled for December.

Although Najib is now the party's deputy president and would typically be considered the front-runner to succeed Abdullah, speculation has intensified that other politicians, including International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, might try to overtake him.

The president and his deputy in the ruling party traditionally also take up the top two posts in the federal government. Abdullah took office in October 2003 after being hand-picked by Mahathir, who retired after 22 years in power.

Abdullah told reporters Sunday that he had no problem with Najib being regarded as his successor, stressing that they had a good working relationship. Abdullah, 68, did not give any timeframe for when he might leave office.

"I will know when to go, but give me a chance to implement what I have promised," he said.

Abdullah is also facing a potential threat from a three-party opposition alliance, which now holds 82 of the 222 seats in Parliament. Opposition leaders have said that some National Front lawmakers might defect to their side, despite repeated denials by coalition officials.

Blame Everyone

2008-04-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

Blame Mahathir

"Tun Dr Mahathir said he was strong, but he has misused that strength. When Barisan Nasional (BN) won big in the 2004 general election, he said (BN was) too strong, not good, needed to have opposition."

"In the recent elections when the opposition did well (winning 82 of the 222 parliamentary seats), we thought he would be celebrating, but he hit out at us instead. Why? "You shouldn't win too many (seats) then, and now you shouldn't win a few?," said Abdullah.

Asked whether he would fight head on with Dr Mahathir based on the tone of his statement, Abdullah said: I say what I only need to say, and don't say what I don't need to."

Abdullah said he was aware that the people wanted him to start addressing issues that were important to them so that Umno would remain strong and have the people's confidence.

He also refuted the claim by some quarters that he was a softy and left all the decisions to his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin.

"Under my leadership, they say there is no freedom, but at the same say that I am 'lembik' (soft). Scared of the 'si lembik' (the softy)?

"The rest are all stupid, only Khairy is clever," he said, referring to Dr Mahathir's accusation that Abdullah allowed himself to be influenced by his son- in-law in running the country and in making decisions.

"This accusation is baseless," he said, adding that when Dr Mahathir was prime minister, the government imposed certain restrictions like asking the press not to use the pictures of former prime minister, the late Tun Hussein Onn.

On the offer by Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to contest the Umno president's post in the party elections in December, with the aim of restoring Umno, Abdullah said the Kelantan Umno leader needed to look at himself first and why BN failed to wrest the state from PAS.

Blame Ku Li

"Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh) should look at himself, as he was the cause of Kelantan falling into the hands of PAS. While PAS ruled Kelantan, he did once tried to win back the state for BN but he failed." Kelantan fell to PAS in 1990 by cooperating with Semangat 46 led by Tengku Razaleigh then. In the 2004 general election, BN almost wrest back the state when it won 21 of the 45 state seats and one more seat when it won the Pengkalan Pasir by-election in 2005. Abdullah said he had also been informed that Tengku Razaleigh did not assist BN in the March 8 general election.

Blame Anwar

On former deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was sacked from the party in 1998 and was trying to make a political comeback, Abdullah said Anwar could wait all he liked.

"He may be the Prime Minister-in-waiting but I'm the leader of today," he stressed.

He also pointed out that when Anwar was the country's number two he (Anwar) too tried to control the media in terms of what came out on TV and in print.

Blame Saboteurs

Abdullah, who is also the Prime Minister, said based on the party's analysis, several of the seats concerned were `white' or safe areas which should have been won and thus allowing the BN to win with the two-third majority.

He said the BN would also not have lost Kedah and Perak if there had been no acts of sabotage against the coalition in the 22 state constituencies concerned.

He said if there had been no acts of sabotage which had robbed BN of victory in the 14 parliamentary constituencies, the BN would have won the general election with a more than two-third majority, he said at a press conference after attending a briefing session with the Umno president which was attended by the party's information machinery at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here Sunday.

Asked why there were members who had sabotaged candidates from their own party, he declined comment.

Abdullah said that at the moment, there was no need for him to state the reasons why the members had acted in such a manner but he would give the information needed to the Umno Disciplinary Committee for appropriate action to be taken.

"The action taken by these members were most regrettable," he said, stressing that the BN victory in the last general election (by winning 140 of the 222 parliamentary seats) showed that the people still wanted him and the BN to continue efforts in developing the country.

PM denies rumours that he will quit. and hehe...we shall wait tomorrow, fingers-crossed ;-)

2008-04-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

Bah, coming from him, we all know what it means. No dissolve Parliament, dissolve Parliament the next day. No Jean Danker marriage, Jean Danker marriage the next day. Just to name a few lar! Check out his track records of flip-flop in this blog, here.

[Source]

April's Fool came in late at the Compendium?

Stay focused tomorrow. You'll never know. ;-)

Yet Another Abdullah Badawi's 'Orchestrated' Interview on RTM1*, TV3, ntv7, 8TV 9.30 p.m. Later

2008-03-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

His last words: 'I will address and give attention to our weaknesses, unfairness, and the delay in implementing projects. Secondly, I will ensure the country will be safe again. I will also develop the country. I will not run away from responsibilities. Even though we lost 2/3 majority, but we still have a large majority to implement the blablabla." Oh Mein Got!

Those who missed the pre-recorded 1/2 hour interview, you're in luck. It is nothing new.

***

*As usual, RTM1 is the last to air the pre-recorded interview, almost 20 minutes after Media Prima stations aired it.

***

MCA, Gerakan and MIC's failure? "Your business," he said! He really doesn't know how to answer a question!

***

Oh Mein Got! He is still harping on the dinosaur-age slogan 'Selamat. Aman. Makmur'!

***

The interview must be recorded quite long ago. He said that the Federal mega-projects in Barisan Rakyat-controlled states will still be carried out despite Penang UMNO's threat to pull all the projects out.

***

All the Media Prima stations are airing the pre-recorded interview now. The power of the 4th floor boys.

Achtung! This is your leader speaking!

"My Son and SIL Never Get Government Projects" again?

Or "Mukhriz gets more projects than Khairy; he has no position to ask me to resign"?

All will be revealed on 9.30 p.m. later.

More quotes will be available on this blog later!

"Why should I step down?"

2008-03-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Abdullah sworn in as PM for second term
Mar 10, 08 11:46am

A defiant Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was sworn for a second term as Malaysian prime minister today, rejecting calls to quit after presiding over the ruling coalition's worst ever election results.

Dressed in a traditional costume and matching "songkok", Abdullah was sworn in by the Agong in a solemn ceremony at the royal palace in Kuala Lumpur.

Also attending were his heir apparent, deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, and other senior ministers.

Abdullah's coalition was mauled in Saturday's election, losing its crucial two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time since 1969 and conceding four states to the resurgent opposition, which now controls five in all.

Voters punished the government for rising inflation and its mishandling of racial tensions, leading to a backlash from Malaysia's minority ethnic Chinese Indians as well as Muslim Malays who form its powerbase.

But Abdullah told supporters he would not quit.

To continue the struggle

"Why should I step down?" he told a cheering crowd outside his home late Sunday. "Our party has won. I do not fear anyone except Allah. I will stay on, I will not give up.

"We have to continue our struggle, our agenda is far from over. We want our country to be progressive and successful and for you, the people, to be happy," he added.

Abdullah's task now is to form a new government under the Barisan Nasional coalition, dominated by his Umno.

"I give you my word, ladies and gentlemen, that I will continue my efforts to strengthen Umno and Barisan Nasional, to launch the manifesto that we have promised so that our country will be safe, peaceful and properous," he said.

Veteran leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled for two decades before handing power to Abdullah as his chosen successor in 2003, accused the prime minister of "destroying" the coalition and led calls for his resignation.

"I think he should accept responsibility for this. He should accept 100 percent responsibility," Mahathir said Sunday.

"I am sorry, but I apparently made the wrong choice."

However there was support for Abdullah from abroad, with the United States signalling it was ready to keep up close cooperation with the government and saying he remained a viable partner.

"We have seen the preliminary election results and we look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Abdullah's government on a wide range of issues of mutual interest," State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper told AFP.

Stunning comeback

Meanwhile the opposition, led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim - who has made a stunning political comeback after his sacking and jailing a decade ago - was getting down to business.

The opposition parties - Anwar's PKR, the Chinese-based DAP and the Islamic party PAS - won an unprecedented four states in the polls.

PAS also extended its margin in northern Kelantan state, which it already held by a thin majority.

State media said PAS would appoint chief ministers in Kedah while a DAP figure will preside in Penang and a PKR chief minister will run Selangor and Perak.

Anwar said late Sunday that the coalition parties would be able to put aside their ideological differences and govern effectively.

He said they would "focus on the economic issue and trying to resolve some of the problems affecting the masses, particularly in the issue of poverty and the normal needs of an average citizen.

"What was promised will be enforced with the best of ability."

Anwar is banned from holding public office until April due to a conviction for corruption, and had said before the vote that he would enter parliament in a by-election in a Keadilan-held seat.

However, he said there were no immediate plans to do that as he had a full workload rallying the newly-elected Keadilan lawmakers.

"I'm not rushed to prepare for a by-election," he added. (-AFP)

He's not the one who says `Babah (daddy), please accept this and I accept it"

2008-03-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Talk is cheap. He should have advised his SIL from running for office. Moreover, by the dirtiest way.

March 10, 2008 23:03 PM

PM Reiterates Khairy Has No Influence On Him

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today reiterated strongly that Khairy Jamaluddin had never been an influence in whatever he has done or decision he has made.

"Khairy is not an influence in whatever I do. He's the Umno Youth vice-head, and he has his idea about anything.

"There may be some coincidence that he speaks about the same policy and not because the policy is what he has promoted, it's a policy of the government," the Prime Minister told newsmen at the Umno Headquarters, here.

He added that as an Umno member, it was a duty for Khairy to know policies of the government and talk about it.

"It doesn't mean that when we talk about the policy, it means that it's the policy he suggested," he said when commenting on a statement made by his predecessor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday alleging that Khairy was responsible for the major defeat suffered by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the just-concluded general election.

The Umno president said what happened to Khairy was due to the misperception based on the fact that the latter was the son-in-law of the Prime Minister.

"He's not the one who says `Babah (daddy), please accept this and I (Abdullah) accept it, and this one you (Abdullah) must do. He doesn't do that.

"This is a perception, I think it's a wrong perception and I pity Khairy for that kind of perception that happened on his goal, and his relationship with me as son-in-law and father-in-law," he said. The Prime Minister said Khairy was a person who spoke openly and had actively voiced out his opinion as many had heard during the Umno general assembly. "Anybody is free to give opinions, anybody is free to give views, and Khairy, like anybody else, speaks openly and statements do come out in the Press," said Abdullah.

-- BERNAMA

"I don't see it that way (vote of no confidence on the government)"

2008-03-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

As The Sleepy Head approaches his final days, his darndest quotes and flowery slogans will be part of the history...

From Malaysiakini:

Pak Lah to meet King on Monday to form gov’t - 2.25am

In a live TV broadcast caretaker Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says he will seek an audience with the Yang di Pertuan Agong on Monday to form the next federal government following BN’s simple majority win in the 12th general elections.

To a reporter’s question on whether the BN coalition would be denied its two-thirds majority in Parliament, Abdullah said: “This is what the people want if they do not want us to have a two-thirds majority.”

When asked whether the massive lost by BN was a vote of no confidence on the government, he said, "I don't see it that way."

He also denied speculations that he would step down as PM in the wake of BN's disastrous performance.

"I don't know who is being pressured (to step down). I'm not resigning," he told reporters at a press conference at the BN operations centre at the Putra World Trade Centre.

"My four years not a failure"; Look who's talking now!

2008-03-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

Just last Tuesday seems to be like eons ago...

"I don't know. I was not involved" again?

"We are not asleep for we are working"

2008-03-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

Like what Rocky said:

Mahathir used to be called many terrible names: dictator, strongman, an anti-Semite, draconian, mamak. But they never could insult him like this.

What a disgrace for Malaysia! We don't deserve to be stuck with a leader like this! Vote him out!

Seeking re-election, Malaysia's leader denies sleeping on the job

The Associated Press

Published: March 3, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's prime minister rejected critics' claims Monday that he deserved to lose in this week's general election for being a poor leader who sleeps on the job.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi insisted that his time in office since October 2003 has "not been a time of failure, but of success," citing steady economic growth and bolstered job opportunities under his government.

Opposition officials have urged voters not to hand Abdullah another five-year mandate in Saturday's general election, claiming that crime, corruption and racial and religious tensions have mounted because of his weak leadership.

"We are not deaf for we hear what the people say," Abdullah was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama. "We are not asleep for we are working."

Opposition rivals have accused Abdullah of being a "sleeping prime minister" who dozes off at Cabinet meetings, while anti-government Web sites have circulated photographs of him yawning or bowing his head with his eyes closed at political gatherings.

Abdullah, speaking while campaigning in northern Penang state, acknowledged that "problems will be there," but pledged his administration would try to resolve any grievances. Abdullah's National Front ruling coalition is expected to retain power but with a lower parliamentary majority.

Aides traveling with Abdullah could not immediately be contacted for comment.

Cash-strapped opposition leaders meanwhile said they have been seeking donations through the Internet for the first time for their election campaign, but that they cannot match the National Front's massive spending power.

The Democratic Action Party's candidates have pleaded on Web sites and online journals for supporters to contribute funds through credit cards and bank transfers to help them print campaign posters and hold public forums, party official Tony Pua said Monday.

One of the party's candidates, Jeff Ooi, has secured about 113,000 ringgit (US$35,000; €23,000) from readers of his Web journal.

Hatta Ramli, treasurer of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, said online donations were nevertheless still insufficient, adding that government candidates have been "very much advanced in the number of campaign posters and banners that they can afford to put up."

Responsibility to aid every Malaysian, says PM

2008-03-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

Saturday March 1, 2008
MYT 6:26:49 PM

Responsibility to aid every Malaysian, says PM

By R.S.N. MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi acknowledged that he would fail his responsibility as a good Muslim leader if he deprives non-Muslims in the country equal opportunities and quality education.

Citing versus from the Quran, Abdullah said it’s his paramount onus as a Muslim head of state to witness non-Muslims develop under his leadership.

“Even Prophet Muhammad ensured that minorities under his care were not deprived during his era, even though they were not Muslims.

“My responsibility is to aid every Malaysian regardless of their religion, and quality education should also reach Chinese and Tamil schools,” he said Saturday when addressing some 2,000 Islamic scholars and teachers at Wisma Darul Iman here.

Abdullah said the needs of minorities and non-Muslims should not be ignored by Muslim leaders.

“They should listen and provide the necessary remedies; that is a good leadership professed by Islam,” he said.

"Opposition Envies BN's Success"

2008-02-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

Abdullah: Opposition Envies BN's Success

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi speaking at a gathering of “The Leader With The People” in Kuala Kedah. Pix: Josmani Salleh

ALOR STAR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) has become the target for slanders by the opposition parties which are envious of its success in administering the country and getting support from the majority of the people, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister said that following the increasingly strong support for the BN, those who were envious of the coalition had made up all kind of stories so that supporters of its component parties would quarrel among themselves.

"They (opposition) make up various stories so that we are suspicious of each other which leads to chaos, quarrels and eventually we become weak," he said when speaking at a gathering of `The Leader With The People' in Kuala Kedah, here today.

He said they spread lies saying that the Malays and the Chinese were not supporting each other and made use of the illegal group Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) to ask Malaysians not to support the BN and MIC.

"The opposition parties hope that by making up these stories they can influence the people to support them when the BN is divided," Abdullah said.

Abdullah said the opposition had been making wild allegations all this while using various ways but the people still supported the BN.

"The opposition must realise why. They know, but pretend not to know although the BN had led Malaysia to become the most developed country among the developing nations in the world," he said.

Abdullah said the people realised that it was only through the BN that the political parties and minority groups in this country could work together.

"Who dares to say that his race is not developed or that they are always at the losing end ever since the BN ruled the country more than 50 years," said the Prime Minister.

"Praise be to God that we have achieved success (in many areas). So who dares to say that his community's wealth and assets have not increased over the years "But success does not come easy while the country will never be peaceful if its people are plagued by suffering and hardship.

"I have never said that we have done everything and that everything is perfect, but the situation in Malaysia has improved and the BN government will continue to implement welfare programmes."

Abdullah said if the poverty level had been 10 percent previously, it had now gone down to 5.7 percent.

"We cannot deny that this is another success. If there are no more hardcore poor people and everything is alright, then we don't need the programme to eradicate poverty by 2010."

He stressed that the poverty-eradication programme covered all races in both rural and urban areas.

The government would continue with this programme for as long as there were poor people because human beings could turn agnostic due to abject poverty, he said.

-- BERNAMA

What success? Something like these, depicted in the poster by Mob1900?

Abdullah works till late to finalise candidates list

2008-02-22T18:48:00.000-08:00

Awww....poor thing, he loses his precious sleep time....zzzzz.z..z....z....

Abdullah works till late to finalise candidates list

By V.P. SUJATA

PUTRAJAYA: It has been late nights for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi this past week, finalising the general election candidates’ list.
His bedtime has been past 1am daily and until yesterday evening, the full list could not be finalised, he said.
“We (including Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) have a lot of work to do to choose the best candidates to contest in the general election.

It’s an honour: Abdullah shaking hands with members of the Malay Chamber of Commerce in Putrajaya Thursday as the chamber’s president Syed Ali Alattas (right) introduces them.

“I have to meet Mentris Besar and component party leaders to finalise the parliamentary and state seats everyday,” he said, adding that the process was taking a long time as there were many factors to be considered before making a final decision.
Abdullah was addressing hundreds of members of the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia at a special function to declare their support for him, at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here yesterday.
He said he told Najib he had to take some time off to attend the event and would continue with the meetings with Mentris Besar after the event.
Abdullah also said that after asking elected representatives to submit report cards on their performance, it was his turn to provide a progress report on his performance during his tenure as Prime Minister.
“MPs and those in the administration have given me their reports cards for me to gauge their performance.
“I, as the Prime Minister, will also give a progress report of the nation since 2004,” he said.
He, however, did not state when he would make his progress report public.
Expressing his delight over seeing so many Malay entrepreneurs and industrialists in Malaysia compared to many years back, Abdullah hoped there would be more entrepreneurs.
He also advised the entrepreneurs to create more job opportunities for others irrespective of race and religion.
Abdullah added that the country also needed more academicians to build the country as well as educate the younger generation.
Repeating some of the achievements of the country, Abdullah said the Gross Domestic Product had increased by 18% from RM427bil in 2004 to RM504bil last year.
“We also received a record 21 million tourists last year in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year while international trade increased by 26% from RM881bil in 2004 to RM1.113 trillion last year.

Abdullah Gives Report Card On Progress Made From 2004 To 2007

2008-02-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

Abdullah Gives Report Card On Progress Made From 2004 To 2007

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- With the elected representatives having given their report cards to the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday that it was now his turn to give a report card to citizens on the progress made by the country from 2004 to 2007.

"Parliament members have to give me report cards on their performance. I as the Prime Minister of a government given the mandate by the people, am also responsible to give a report card on the progress achieved by the nation from 2004 to 2007," he said.

He said this at the Solidarity Assembly with members of the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) held at the Putrajaya Convention Centre here.

Abdullah said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 18 per cent from RM427 billion in 2004 to RM504 billion last year.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) is going to the polls on March 8 to get a new mandate from the people after having been voted in by a landslide victory in the 2004 election.

Abdullah said the GPP increase involved all sectors, including modern agriculture, biotechnology and Islamic banking.

The nation recorded 21 million tourist arrivals last year in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year programme, he said.

International trade, he said, increased by 26 per cent from RM881 billion in 2004 to RM1.113 trillion last year.

Mean household income also increased from RM3,249 to RM3,617 during the period, he added.

The Prime Minister said the government also spent RM43.4 billion in subsidising essential goods so that their prices remained at an affordable range for the people.

He said the transformation programme undertaken for government-linked-companies (GLCs) had also succeeded in increasing their profitability with shareholders getting better returns on their investments in them.

Over 204,000 small-and-medium enterprises were also created since 2005 involving the giving out loans totalling RM107 billion, he said.

Bursa Malaysia's Composite Index, he said, reached an all time high after it increased by 161 per cent with market capitalisation rising from RM460 billion in 2003 to RM1.2 trillion last year.

Abdullah said the country's fiscal deficit was reduced from five per cent of the GDP in 2003 to 3.2 per cent of the GDP last year.

"Malaysia's foreign reserves also increased by 120 per cent from USD40 billion to USD101 billion," he said.

He said recognition of Malaysia in the global competitiveness index also improved from 25th position to 21st place.

Other examples, he said, would be spelt out one by one later so that the people were aware of the successes made by the government.

All these successes served to add value to those that had been achieved earlier, he said.

"Of the successes that we have inherited all this while, we add value to them. We add value to our services, products and to ourselves. This is everybody's role," he said.

In the government's effort to give rise to more bumiputera entrepreneurs and industrialists, Abdullah gave the commitment to implement programmes for the purpose more vigorously, not only to increase the numbers but also ensure quality.

He said that there had been a notable increase of their numbers now compared to before.

"During the time of Merdeka (Independence), in Kepala Batas there were only two Bumiputera businessmen. One opened a restaurant and the other a grocery store," he said.

Abdullah said it was not necessary to ask that Bumiputeras be helped in the direction (become entrepreneurs)as it was the government's responsibility to do so.

"No obstacle is insurmountable. Opportunities that come, we must grab them to get ahead," he added.

-- BERNAMA

"First Class Grapes and First Class Apples"

2008-02-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

From Doc Mave:

Of Sour Grapes and Green Apples

Malaysian Prime Minister said yesterday that it is not fair to compare Malaysia with Singapore.

[Quote:]

"It is like comparing "First-class Grapes" with "First-class Apple".

"We are a population of over 20 million and we rank 8th in the world in terms of our competitiveness."

"I am not telling you lies. This statistic is from an international survey."

"Everywhere I go, the business community tells me that Malaysia is doing very well. These people are smart. You cannot fool them because they are well-read."

"Please trust us - we are your government."

""Nobody is happy to see prices rising but this is out of our control."

"The private sector is dominated by the Chinese and I want to say a big 'thank you' to the community for creating so many job opportunities." [unquote]

Grapes and Apple? We are grapes, they are apple?

I think it's more of Rats and Lions.

This is the year of the Rat; so using the analogy of Rat is more appropriate.

I always thought a bigger population will create a greater mass and greater domestic consumption which can fuel the economy. This is why the USA economy had thrived; largely on greater domestic consumption. But America's economy thrived on innovation and creativity, and attracting foreign investments to the tune of trillions of dollars, due to the laissez-faire doctrine. Malaysia thrived on Crony-Capitalism and Kautimism. Singapore had no natural resources except human capitals, and they thrived on trade and financial services. Most of all, Singapore invested their national funds in the global economy, buying good companies and generating billions of profit from these investments. This, we had failed, and failed miserably.

Grapes? Ya, sour grapes! The apple remains green...

"I am a Malay but I am a prime minister of all races

2008-02-17T22:16:00.000-08:00

Oi, udahlah. Dah cukup dah! Meluak aku dengar dia cakap ulang-ulang kali ni. Kepada cik adik dan mat siber yang tengah baca ni, kalo hang masih tak muntah lepas baca blog ni (aku pun dah mula muntah dah dengan panji-panji semua ni), pi hantuk kepala ko dengan tukul.

Nation
Monday February 18, 2008

Abdullah: It is my duty to be honest and fair to everyone

By CHRISTINA CHIN and DAVID TAN

PENANG: I am a Malay but I am a prime minister of all races – that was Prime Minster Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's message to the people.
Speaking at a dialogue session with the Chinese community at the Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) yesterday, the premier said as a Muslim, it was his duty to be “honest and fair” to everyone regardless of their race or religion.
“The Quran tells us to always have integrity and this is something I will never forget. As a Muslim, I will one day meet my Maker and He (Allah) will ask me what I have done as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
“I cannot lie because God is all-knowing,” he said, adding that he had friends from all communities.
“Until today, my Indian and Chinese school friends are very close to me and we have never had an argument. Similarly, in the Government, I am friends with leader representatives from various communities because we are satu hati (united) and have a common mind and objective.

Festive greetings: (From left) Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Penang Chinese Town Hall chairman Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong, Abdullah and Dr Koh wishing Happy New Year to participants of the dialogue session with the Chinese community at the Penang Chinese Town Hall yesterday.

“Let me tell you honestly, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon Tsu Koon is my good friend. And when (Datuk Seri) Ong Ka Ting, (Datuk Seri Dr) Lim Keng Yaik or Tsu Koon ask me for help, I never say no.
“When Ka Ting asked me to solve issues relating to Chinese schools, I immediately picked up the phone and asked (Datuk Seri) Hishammuddin to look into the problem. We want all our children to have access to good quality education, to become good friends and good Malaysians,” he said.
The Barisan chairman noted that it was not enough for the children to be pandai (smart) as they also needed to have good hearts.
“Today we have 100% literacy in the country and it is time to focus on developing human values. We must add value and quality to the success we have achieved in the last 50 years otherwise we cannot progress. That is what I want for the future,” he said, adding that since he became Prime Minister in 2003, the country has been peaceful.
“Of course there are minor misunderstandings. Sedangkan lidah lagi tergigit, what more when we are a multi-racial society.
“What is important is that we are willing to talk and solve our problems together,” he added.
In his speech, Dr Koh said the Barisan Nasional realises that it was a government elected “by and for people.”
“We take into account all the various views and wishes when formulating policies.”

"I will continue to fulfil promises"

2008-02-16T20:27:00.000-08:00

OMG! Is he really serious?

Sunday February 17, 2008

I will continue to fulfil promises, says Abdullah

SUNGAI PETANI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has assured the people that he will continue to attend to their needs and provide the best for them.

“I will continue to fulfil what I have promised to do for the people,” he said.

He said the Government was prepared to listen to the people, as “we are not 100% perfect.”

“We will correct our weaknesses. What I want is for the people to work together with me and be with me.

“I will work together with them. This comes from my heart,” he said when speaking at a meet-the-people session at the Taman Ria Jaya field here yesterday.

He said the Government had always showed concern for the people’s welfare by providing subsidies for housing, education, health care, transportation and basic amenities.

“The comforts and good life that all of us enjoy today did not just come from nowhere.

“It was the efforts of a concerned government that made things possible. We have to be thankful for that,” he said.

He said 85% of the Government’s expenses went towards providing various subsidies.

“This is because we do not want people to suffer but continue to enjoy the good things in life,” he said.

On complaints about the hike in prices of consumer goods and fuel, he said the people were not aware that the Government had actually absorbed much of the cost.

“Where in the world can you find a government which increased the allowance of pensioners when civil servants enjoyed a pay hike.

“It is only in Malaysia that all these perks are available. It is because of the collective work that all of us have done so far, that we continue to enjoy progress,” he said.

Earlier, he met Kedah Barisan Nasional leaders in a closed-door meeting here.

“Nothing to do with that. We have forgotten about Anwar. I don't remember about Anwar”

2008-02-14T18:54:00.000-08:00

Abdullah's secret
Husna Yusop

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 14, 2008): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has refused to be drawn into speculations on who will get into the list of candidates for the March 8 general elections, including on the fate of ministers and party component leaders.

"I have yet to get the list from the state liaison chiefs and party heads. Therefore, I cannot say how many of them will be retained and how many new faces will be nominated.

“It is important to make sure the candidates are credible and have the support of all parties. Umno, being the largest component party in Barisan Nasional (BN), will always show its commitment to BN’s struggle, consensus and cooperation.

“This is very important because it is the party which is facing the election,” he said, adding he will meet BN state liaison heads to discuss the list of candidates in the next few days.

Speaking to reporters after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting in the party headquarters today, Abdullah said he will consider the candidates based on merits and upon recommendations of the party heads and liaison chiefs.

On whether he will re-consider if a minister does not get nominated, such as in the case of Perlis, he said: “I will not comment until I have seen the list.”

Asked whether MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu will be contesting or would follow the footstep of former Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik who bade farewell to his cabinet colleagues on Wednesday, Abdullah said: “I have not decided yet. When the list comes, maybe he will not put his name in the list, we never know.”

To talks that he was considering not having Samy Vellu in the list, he repeated: "I have not seen the list, I will not comment."

He said as far as BN is concerned, party chiefs would normally contest in the elections but, “if they don’t recommend their names, we cannot force them to do so.”

“Let me have a look (at the list) first. Stop asking me about if's because I have not seen the list yet,” he said, adding Samy Vellu or anyone else can say anything they want to the press but they might change their mind later.

When asked to comment on the longer period of campaigning, Abdullah simply retorted: “Don’t you (reporters) like it? The newspapers will get lots of news.”

Asked whether the early election date was to prevent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from contesting, Abdullah said: “Nothing to do with that. We have forgotten about Anwar. I don't remember about Anwar.”

He added that the election date was not his say but that of the Election Commission.

"BN see elections in a bigger picture, a big challenge. We will not take anything lightly. We take everything seriously, big or small.”

Asked to comment on PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s readiness to contest against him in Kepala Batas, Abdullah said it showed that Abdul Hadi was not confident of winning in Terengganu.

He said based on feedback, there was hope that BN could topple PAS in Kelantan.

On seat-swapping, he said so far, he has not received any but if it is done based on mutual consent between two parties, it would not be a problem.

Asked whether he is meeting the Johor Sultan to discuss the elections as reported recently, he said he plans to pay him a visit because he has been ill for quite some time.

Updated: 06:52PM Thu, 14 Feb 2008

"I believe with the strong mandate..."

2008-02-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

Parliament dissolved for 12th General Election
Husna Yusop, Giam Say Khoon, Pauline Puah, Llew-Ann Phang, Regina William, Jonathan Chen and T.K.Letchumy Tamboo and Tan Yi Liang

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 13, 2008): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is confident the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that he leads will be returned again in the coming 12th general election with its two-thirds majority intact simply because it has fulfilled its promises to the people.

He believes the people will again give the BN a strong mandate to rule the country as they are confident it would be able to continue with its effort to develop the country and lead the nation towards greater prosperity.

"We hope to get a big support, at least two-thirds majority," he said in a special press conference to announce the dissolution of the 11th parliament which is due to expire only May next year.

In the last general election in 2004, the BN secured its biggest ever electoral victory, sweeping 90% of the 219 seats in the Dewan Rakyat and controlling all the state asssemblies, except that of Kelantan which it failed to capture by a mere whisker.

Asked whether the BN could repeat its 2004 performance, he said: “I am not sure about that. I think 2004 was a special record. But we hope to get a big support as the voters know that the BN has a good track record.”

He said BN had fulfilled its promises to the people and carried out many programmes and it will continue to ensure the programmes will eventually produce the desired results, benefit the people and contribute towards the country’s development.

“ We have succeeded in developing the country by upgrading it from one level to another. And we hope to be able to give a good service and value add to our success thus far.

“We have the experiences and capabilities. And we can carry out all the development plans,” he said.

Abdullah said the elections machinery has been arranged and will be mobilised accordingly.

He also advised all state governments, except Sarawak, to dissolve their state assemblies to enable the state elections to be held simultaneously.

“I have had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin this morning and received his consent to dissolve Parliament,” he said, adding the Parliament and Election Commission (EC) have been informed.

He said the EC will decide on the nomination and polling dates.

The EC will meet tomorrow morning and is expected to determine the nomination and election dates.

Yesterday, Abdullah had denied that the parliament will be dissolved today, prompting reporters to ask why he decided to change his mind suddenly.

To this, he said: “I cannot give any clues on the date of the dissolution because His Majesty has not decided. How can I make a statement or give any clues beforehand? That is not possible. The Agong must know first and make a decision.”

Asked whether the BN list of candidates is ready, he said: "No. Once it is ready, I will make public the number of new faces or incumbents who will be vying for the parliamentary and state seats."

While refusing to comment on the “13” date, he brushed off a suggestion that he was trying to project a certain image as the announcement was made during the Chinese New Year 15-day celebration.

“No. It will not affect any activities or celebrations of the Chinese,” he said.

On why the election is held 15 months before the current mandate ends, Abdullah said there is nothing wrong with having it now.

“I think it is good to have it now. It is not a problem. I believe with the strong mandate, we will be able to continue with our efforts to develop the country and give abundance to the people.”

On his hope for the voters, he said: “I hope they will understand the issues related to our country and make an objective evaluation. And when the time comes, cast your vote.”
He also expressed hope that the election process, especially the nomination and polling days, will take place smoothly.
"Hopefully, there would not be any disturbances or difficulties faced by the people that would hinder them from coming out and exercise their rights to vote for the candidates of their choice,” he added.

"The cabinet meeting will go on, go on and on. You are the smart aleck, you all enjoy circulating rumours"

2008-02-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

[Source: Malaysiakini; snapshot by Whatalulu]

"I don't have any "anak angkat"

2008-02-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

February 10, 2008 18:05 PM

I Don't Have Any Adopted Child, Says Abdullah

BUTTERWORTH, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- "I don't have any "anak angkat" (adopted child) and I've never asked anyone to do anything about election candidates," Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Sunday.

Asked on reports about certain people claiming that they have been made "anak angkat" by the prime minister and have been given the "blessing" to pick potential candidates for the upcoming general election, Abdullah said candidly, "Who's my anak angkat?"

He was speaking at a news conference after meeting Penang Umno divisional youth chiefs and chairing Kepala Batas Umno division meeting.

Abdullah, who is Umno president, said he had never asked anyone to determine the candidates' lists for the election.

He said the list would be forwarded to him only by the respective state Umno liaison committees.

"Don't believe them. I've not asked anyone to do anything (about election candidates). When the time comes, I will receive the candidates' lists from the state Umno," he added.

On Friday, Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib revealed that certain people have been going around claiming that they were the prime minister's "adopted son" and had the powers to determine candidates' line-up.

-- BERNAMA

"Since nobody wants No. 13, I take it...I want to take No. 8, everybody has taken it. So I take No. 13"

2008-02-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

February 10, 2008 16:28 PM

Service Record Main Criteria For Candidacy, Says Abdullah

BUTTERWORTH, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives' service record to the people since the last general election will be the basis for selection of candidates.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had received their performance report cards and would study them before deciding on the candidates to be fielded in the upcoming 12th general election.

"The report cards have been sent for my perusal and I will see what they (assemblymen and members of parliament) have done," he told reporters after meeting Penang Umno divisional youth leaders and chairing Kepala Batas Umno division meeting.

To a question on when Parliament would be dissolved, the Umno president and BN chairman, said: "Don't worry. When I decide to dissolve Parliament, I'll call for a press conference to announce the dissolution. Just wait."

On speculation that Parliament would be dissolved on Wednesday (Feb 13), Abdullah said in jest: "13...you all like 13, Why?"

Asked whether No. 13 was his favourite number, the Prime Minister said: "Yes, I like that number because nobody wants it because of superstitution. Usually, people rush to get No. 8.

"Since nobody wants No. 13, I take it...I want to take No. 8, everybody has taken it. So I take No. 13," he said.

Neither denying nor confirming No. 13 with the dissolution of Parliament, Abdullah said: "Up to you...if you want to link No. 13, you can link."

On the series of Umno meetings he had chaired since coming to Penang on Friday, the Prime Minister said he had asked party leaders at the meetings to be ready for the general election.

"Very high mood here in Penang, I'm happy, I must continue to work hard," he said.

Abdullah said the Penang BN had not submitted its candidates' line-up for the general election.

"Penang has not sent, even from other states have not come, they're preparing the list," he added.

-- BERNAMA

"Now, the farmers don't need to worry... 15 years, plus another 15 years, to plant vegetables, everybody is happy"

2008-02-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love it when it's the festive season, or rather, it's the Elections season? The PM's at home, elegantly more talkative and most importantly, more darnder quotes! Here's another one for February 9.

February 09, 2008 19:18 PM

BN Govt Can Easily Solve Problems Of Any Race, Says Abdullah

BIDOR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) government can easily solve problems of the multiracial populace of the country as the BN is a party for all races, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

He said the government governing the nation was a multiracial coalition government that constantly worked to maintain racial harmony, peace, prosperity and safety of the people.

"The BN government functions on the basis of consultation and consensus. This is a multiracial, united and collaborative coalition government," he said when addressing a farmers' gathering at Kampung Baru Coldstream, near here.

Abdullah said the Cabinet comprising ministers representing diverse races discussed together problems that surfaced and planned ahead to transform Malaysia into a peaceful and prosperous nation.

Abdullah, who is also BN chairman, said the BN government understood the aspirations of the various races who wanted to live in a peaceful and safe country.

At the event, the Prime Minister handed offer letters for a 15-year land lease to 211 farmers from Kampung Baru Coldstream in place of the yearly renewal of land lease under the temporary occupation licence (TOL).

They are among 931 Chinese farmers who were planting vegetables and fruits illegally on government land or under TOL in six areas in Perak.

Abdullah said the farmers who received the land lease were a happy lot now that the problem they faced over the status of their farming land was now over.

"This is an example of how the state and federal governments settle the people's problems. With the cooperation of BN component party leaders, the Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Mohamed Tajol Rosli Ghazali), (MCA president) Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and (Datuk) Ong Ka Chuan (MCA secretary-general) this problem has been solved amicably," he said.

The Prime Minister said farmers in Ulu Yam, Selangor, also faced similar problem before but was settled smoothly with the cooperation of BN leaders.

Abdullah said the agriculture sector would continue to receive incentives and support from the government as it was a crucial sector producing food items for the people," he said.

"Now, the farmers don't need to worry... 15 years, plus another 15 years, to plant vegetables, everybody is happy," added the Prime Minister to the applause of the audience.

Earlier, Tajol Rosli, in his speech, said each of the farmers was offered about three hectares of land for a 15-year lease with an option to be renewed for another 15 years or 20 years plus another 20 years.

Bidor, Chemor, Jelapang and Ipoh are the main vegetable-growing areas in Perak.

A total of 1,379 lots, covering more than 2,000 hectares, have been allotted to the farmers.

Earlier, Abdullah visited the vegetable farms and fruit orchards at Kampung Baru Coldstream.

-- BERNAMA

“A rumour is a rumour. Anytime can be appropriate when I decide”

2008-02-08T18:54:00.000-08:00

The Star, Saturday February 9, 2008

PM refuses to speculate on Khairy’s candidacy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister has refused to be drawn into speculations about candidates for the coming general election.

“I will not comment on candidacy for anyone at this time,” said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah said this after being asked to comment on reports that his son-in-law and Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin would be contesting the Rembau parliamentary seat.

On Wednesday, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that Khairy was among the five names nominated for the seat, currently held by Datuk Firdaus Muhammad Rom Harun.

Abdullah also refused to verify rumours that Parliament would be dissolved during the 15-day Chinese New Year celebrations or that it would be held during the March school holidays.

“A rumour is a rumour. Anytime can be appropriate when I decide,” he said after attending the Gerakan Chinese New Year open house yesterday.

When asked to comment on claims by certain quarters that some Barisan Nasional politicians were using the Chinese New Year celebrations as a means to boost the election campaign, Abdullah had this to say:

“Have I been talking about the election? You (reporters) asked me. If you did not ask, I won’t reply to those questions.”

“Please listen to their woes and correct our mistakes"

2008-02-08T18:42:00.000-08:00

The Star, Saturday February 9, 2008

Hear out the people and correct mistakes, PM tells leader

By K. SUTHAKAR and PRISCILLA DIELENBERG

PENANG: Listen to the people, correct your mistakes and overcome your weaknesses, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has told Barisan Nasional leaders.

The Prime Minister said if this was done, the people would continue to support the ruling government and give the mandate to the coalition to continue to lead the country.

“Please listen to their woes and correct our mistakes. If we succeed in doing so, they (the people) will support us,” he said when addressing a 4,000-odd crowd at the Gerakan-MCA joint Chinese New Year open house at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) here yesterday.

Abdullah also said that Barisan component parties should be truly united if the coalition was to remain in power.

He said he had studied many “reports” submitted to him and one of the most important things the people wanted was unity in the coalition.

“They don’t want the component parties to quarrel with one another,” he said.

Abdullah said Barisan component parties worked together closely in making policy decisions at the Cabinet-level.

“We face many problems but we resolve it one by one. If it is not resolved, we don’t decide to forget it. The matter is discussed at the next meeting,” he said.

Abdullah said he had faith in the “goodness” of the people that they would back Barisan in the coming general election although they frequently made “noises”.

On Barisan’s strength, Abdullah said Umno could not succeed on its own, as it has to take care of the aspirations of non-Malays.

Likewise, he said other components parties such as the MCA, Gerakan and MIC could also not succeed on their own.

“That’s why we must work together so that we can overcome our weaknesses. It is easy to break a single bamboo but difficult to break a cluster of bamboos,” he said.

On Penang, Abdullah said he was determined that Penang's second bridge, the Penang Outer Ring Road and monorail project be completed on schedule.

He, however, apologised for the delay in the implementation of some of the projects.

"Don't Say That I Don't Work Hard"

2008-02-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

The Star, Friday February 8, 2008
MYT 4:39:44 PM

PM: I work hard to fulfil duties

PENANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysians were aware that he works hard to fulfil his responsibilities for them.

"Some of you can say that I'm not good, you can say whatever. "But don't say that I don't work."

"I work very hard. I really mean it and you know it,'' he said to thundering applause from hundreds guests who attended the Chinese New Year open house at the Penang Chinese Town Hall here.

Abdullah said as a Muslim, he had an obligation to fulfil his responsibility.

"I have a very heavy responsibility and I have to carry it out,'' he said.

He also urged Malaysians to make full use of the opportunities available to do well in life and to serve the people.

"It is God's will that I become the Prime Minister of Malaysia and I am very conscious that I have to serve the people although I personally do not benefit even one sen because of this,'' he said.

He said in fulfilling his responsibility, he has to be fair to all Malaysians, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

"However, each of us has to strive towards the creation of a Malaysian community that is happy, prosperous, united, harmonious and respected.

"As Malaysians, no matter where we are and even though we are just a minority group, attending a function, we should feel comfortable and happy when attending a function.

"We should feel at home and that we are in the company of friends and fellow Malaysians,'' he said.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in his speech said a lot of renewals and changes were being initiated under Abdullah's leadership especially in areas such as economy, security and government delivery system.

"These renewals and changes will however, take some time and require the support and co-operation of all Malaysians,'' he said.

Picture series by Whatalulu.

I work very hard.
I really mean it
and you know it

PM at the Chinese New Year open house at the Penang Chinese Town Hall here as reported by the Star

"I'm happy if ministers don't fight"

2008-02-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

"I So Happy You Ministers Don't Fight"

[Source]

Abdullah promises to consider needs of all Malaysians

2008-02-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

"Abdullah promises to consider needs of all Malaysians"

[Source]

"This is extremely biadap"

2008-02-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

Biadap? What so biadap?

This is extremely biadap, PM Pak Lah said in reference to the picture carried by the NST yesterday which shows 5 members of Bersih tearing up the picture of Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, the Election Commission chairman.

Is tearing a newspaper an act of biadap? What is so insulting?

I use to see people using newspaper to clean their backside. I do tear newspaper. People do use newspaper to do all kinds of things.

I often saw that guy who shouted "Surat Khabar Lama" carrying newspaper with pictures of our prime minister, deputy PM, international leaders, and all others, and put it inside the truck like garbage.

Is corruption not biadap? Is buying or "given" a Cobra Yacht not biadap? Is buying an A319 Airbus using public's money for personal use not biadap? What about the failure to uphold a Gentleman Agreement? What about the affirmation that "my son did not get any projects from the government"? What about Kubang Pasu divisional election vote-buying as claim by Mahathir? What about Perth trip? What about ECM-Libra scandal? So what's biadap?

Isn't it insulting to take away our freedom of expression and freedom to voice dissent? Isn't it far more insolent of the newspapers who often lied and plagiarized other's and treat the citizens as fools?

"There was no gentleman’s agreement between me and Mahathir"

2008-02-01T04:41:00.000-08:00

Friday February 1, 2008

PM: There was no gentleman’s agreement between me and Mahathir

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said there was no gentleman’s agreement between him and his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he (Abdullah) be prime minister only for a term.

“No such thing,” the Prime Minister told reporters yesterday after he launched Pavilion, the latest upmarket shopping mall here.

Asked why he thought Dr Mahathir felt that there was such an agreement, he said, “Each person has his own views.”

When reporters pressed him further on the so-called gentleman’s agreement, Abdullah brushed it aside saying, “Why are you so interested in this? There was nothing.”

New city landmark: Abdullah beating a drum as a conductor directs other drummers at the entrance of the Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Behind Abdullah and Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah are Tan Sri Zainol Mahmood, chairman of Urusharta Cemerlang Sdn Bhd which owns Pavilion, and Datin Cindy Lim, executive director of Malton Bhd, the developer.

Three days ago, the former prime minister had claimed that he had a gentleman’s agreement when he handed over power to Abdullah in 2003, that the latter would stay on for one term only and subsequently pass over the mantle to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

On the general election, Abdullah indicated that it was close.

Asked whether he had received inspiration to call for the election, he replied, “I am about to.”

He said he would pick competent people, who wanted to serve the rakyat, as candidates. On Dr Mahathir’s call that Barisan Nasional field only clean candidates, Abdullah said this was his plan all along.

“We, too, want only clean candidates,” he added.

On Dr Mahathir’s hope that people should use their power as voters to change Barisan and Umno, Abdullah said it was always up to the rakyat to decide what they wanted.

Asked whether the crackdown on the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) would have an impact on the elections, Abdullah said, “there might be a little bit but nothing more than that.”

Reports have suggested that Indians voters were angry with the Government over its action on Hindraf and might not back the ruling coalition overwhelmingly as was the practice in the past.

On a different matter, Abdullah said his meeting yesterday with MCA Youth, which lasted more than an hour, was productive.

“We had a lively discussion on many issues that reflect their concern,” he added.

In Putrajaya, Najib reiterated his support and loyalty for Abdullah, MAZWIN NIK ANIS reports.

“I am committed to support the Prime Minister and to be loyal to him.

“At the same time, my focus is on the general election to ensure that Barisan Nasional wins big,” he told reporters after opening a seminar for Felda mosque officials yesterday.

Asked if he was aware of any gentleman's agreement made when Dr Mahathir stepped down, Najib said, “I don’t know about the agreement. You have to ask the parties concerned.”

"Repeat of 2004 mandate not possible"

2008-01-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

PM admited that 2004 Mandate impossible

Once again, our Prime Minister pledged that "Only Credible" candidates will be pick to stand election.

He said that too in 2004. He is repeating the same now.

He must be using the same template speech again, after 4 years, boleh pakai lagi.

Were we happy with his candidates of 2004?

Did we see credibility of the Barisan Nasional MPs and State Assemblymen?

What about the credibility of the XXL cabinet members?

In 2004, he said he has selected only credible and competent and clean candidates. Credible has become so subjective; competent is objectively absent; clean is certainty, for they sapu everything; besar pun makan, kecil pun makan, semua makan.

In 2004, Pak Lah said BN will bring more prosperity if given a bigger mandate.

His wish was granted and BN secured more than 95% of the seats in Parliament and State Assemblies.

He did bring far greater prosperity to the people, but some people.

Kamaladdin was said to be worth more than a billion. He said his son was not given any projects in Malaysia. Petronas did gave quite some projects to his son's companies and associated companies.

Khairy is worth a lot more. He was lucky to have friends to loan him multi-millions interest free loan, maybe free altogether to procure a substantial stake in a Plc. He later sold out with some loss, but insignificant.

Zakaria had his new palace, short of the title of sultan.

Hundreds of billions worth of projects were sold in the open market and the commission agents and political runners were having field days. The 4th Floor becomes the new project trading house.

Those mega projects awarded by Dr M that were suspended or terminated in the name of frugality and megaism were resurrected and repackaged into a far behemoth size, and then renegotiated and resold to the original buyers with some puffing and laughings.

Other than prosperity projects, he had a new bedmate, amid a used denim.

But he knows and acknowledged that the massive mandated granted in 2004 will not, and could not, be repeated.

The Indians came out into the open to cry marginalization.

The Church cried because there were calls to demolish their cross and statutes. Books that have pictures of Moses and Noah were confiscated by the little napoleons. Fortunately, sanity prevailed.

But the dead were not allowed to rest in peace. In fact the dead couldn't resist those who assert control over their dead bodies. The little napoleons made god fight each other. The ultimate winner is not God but the satanic napoleons. Even the courts that is suppose to dispense natural justice could not go against the false prophets.

Election is not far away... Malaysian citizens, once again, will have to decide how much corruption and pilferages will we be willing to further endure, and how much is our next threshold of patience and impotence.

Are we capable to pick and elect leaders who have the integrity and competence to lead our nation and to represent us? They are elected as law-makers! But, it seems we often elect law-breakers! And they made law that is similar to bullet-proof vests for themselves. And the innocents and victims gets indicted and incriminated.

I fear, and I suffered phobias. Natural justice becomes natural injustice. Equality becomes equality amongst the poor and peasants. Privileges becomes rights. The Constitution is made an exercise book with free reins for editing.

The insidious hemorrhaging continues to oozes and the cancerous system deteriorates at a far greater speed. There is no sight of cure. It is not doom yet; but it's damned!

Is there a God? What is justice? I need to go seek advice from Lingham.

I could be lucky as I'm a friend of Khai and Patrick.

"We'll eradicate poverty regardless of races"

2008-01-20T13:12:00.001-08:00

A Sunday Gathering to Parade The Emperor's New Clothes...

Look at theSun's frontpage:

[theSun's frontpage Jan 21st 2008]

Deemed to be the not-your-average and only-hope-left MSM, theSun didn't even bother to mention the crowd number of the gathering and put a mocking 'bend over like a frog' (if you want a poverty cabinet panel and a holiday) picture instead.

Look at the naked emperor and the innocent and naive cheerers...

Notice the lackluster hands up in the air when the emperor is parading his new clothes?

And on this yet another panel...

To quote a witness at the gathering, Nanda, over at The People's Parliament:

Pak Lah said we have managed to improve the status of poverty but there are still hardcore poverty among all the races. ‘Kita bukan negara maju lagi, kita masih sedang membangun, kita belum maju.’ ‘Satu janji kerajaan BN adalah kita mesti menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar di kalangan semua rakyat tanpa mengira bangsa menjelang 2010.’ Pak Lah pledged, ‘Saya akan tubuhkan satu parti, satu jabatan dalam kabinet saya untuk menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar.’

Wasn't that the NEP was supposed to be, to 'eradicate poverty regardless of race and to abolish the recognisation of work by race'? Look what happened now?

Like what Lulu said, I too wonder if the naked emperor ever thinks about the day when he's no longer the emperor, and how will he live with it when he finds himself naked.

"They must repent and be brave enough to return Sharlinie."

2008-01-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

Pak Lah's Plea to Criminals

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made a plea to the person who kidnap Sharlinie urging him to free the child.

"Those who did this are cruel. I hope those responsible will realize how angry the public is," Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters yesterday at the Family Day for staff of the Prime Minister's Office at Seri Perdana, his official residence.

"They must repent and be brave enough to return Sharlinie."

We Malaysians are glad that the Prime Minister had come out in the open to call on the criminals to repent and be brave. Kidnapping is not our culture, and the kidnappers must uphold his integrity and the rule of natural justice. All Malaysian criminals must be brave and courageous. They must go to the police station to surrender themselves and not wait for the police to hunt them down. We do not have enough police personnels to do such work and it is very tough job to hunt them down. So if the criminals will cooperate with the police, it will make our nation more peaceful and we will then be able to reduce the crime rates.

For those criminals who are prepared to accept our Prime Minister's advice, the police may be willing to consider treating them better when they are in lockup and the public prosecutor may even consider to charged them for a slightly (very very slight) lesser crime and may even ask the judge to be lenient towards them. That way, it's win-win and the criminals may even be bestowed some titles, like Datut, Pingat Jasa Berani, Pingat Jasa Rakyat, or Pingat Jasa Barisan Rempit.

It was a great and brave call from the Prime Minister. No PM in the past had dared to plead to the criminals asking them to be brave and courageous in repenting and self-surrender. This shows how brave our PM is. This shows how effective Barisan Nasional solve the rising crime problems. Now, criminals can come forward and surrender themselves and this save the police and the nation a lot of time and expenses.

UMNO Putera Chairman Datuk Azeez had assembled a large group of Mat Rempit to relieve the police of the search effort. The response from the Mat Rempit was great. So, if you hear motorcycles racing around town and cities, do not fear as they are doing a great service for the nation. They are speedily searching for the little girl and they had to do it quick and fast; so they must speed and run around town in all directions, in desperation, to prove they are putting in their best efforts without being paid.

Pak Lah also expressed his concern about similar cases involving young children. He advised parents to keep a close watch on their children.

"Parents must take care of their children. Don't let them go out alone in the evenings. There's no need to ask them to go alone to the shops to buy things.

"If they must go, get an older sibling to accompany them or the parents themselves should go with them.

"Parents should hold their children's hands. Don't let them wander off alone. If not, all sorts of things can happen."

So, parents, please hold your child's hand. Don't let them go out. Don't let them meet kidnappers, rapists and murderers. Teach them how to recognize those criminals. If you don't know how, asked the PM and the police; they are the experts.

"Fast-track steps to fight crime"

2008-01-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Malaysiakini also made this observation.

The 5 steps are:

- hiring of contract police personnel who are retiring or have retired;
(What? No offense to senior citizens, but you want them, or rather do you trust them to erhmm...chase snatch thieves?)

- installing more closed-circuit television cameras in buildings and public places;
(Like what Rocky said, one of Nurin's killer was captured on CCTV. But not only did they had to send to FBI to get a clearer image of the culprit, but in the end they didn't even succeed in catching the culprit!)

- setting up more police stations in shophouses and housing estates;
(Remember the Johor towns where they were supposedly equiped with more police stations and personnel? The last thing I heard, some FHM (F*cker; Dirty and Horny) was captured on CCTV instead!)

- appointing civilians to administrative positions and thereby releasing police personnel for their main duties;
(Yeah, tak payah kerja! Now everyone can be a police personnel(TM))

- fast-tracking recruitment.
(Kuat bodek =faster promotion?)

What a joke!

You want votes issit? Then just dissolve the f**king Parliament and declare an election already! Not call your SIL to 'not to speculate'!

"We don't want housewives to start complain about this"

2008-01-07T12:57:00.000-08:00

"We don't want housewives to start complain about this"

[Source]

"I don't see it as a crisis"

2008-01-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

Wait, there's another neglected group. Or rather a person. Or an imbecile. A very potential FHM. The 'I have big ears but there's no crisis-I'm so calm':

Snapshot by Hafiz. Also, visit his funny comic strip.

"I won't disappoint the people"

2007-12-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

Pak Lah: Give me one more chance

Pak Lah makes another call to the people to give him one more chance.

PM:" Support me and I won't disappoint you"

He said he now has a greater sense of responsibility to strive even harder to ensure prosperity, harmony and development without leaving out any group.

"I feel I have to have greater determination, have to work harder. I will not disappoint the people."

“I do not want to disappoint you. If I have to work hard, I will work hard for you and the future of the country,” Abdullah told 5,000 people at a dinner in Puchong Indah.

“I value the relationship among Malaysians. I value the multi-ethnicity in the country. This is what gives hope for the future of the country,” he said.

He said Barisan Nasional subscribed to solidarity, cooperation, consultation and consensus. This you can see factually when Samy Vellu appeal on behalf of the 31 accused for attempted murder. You also can observed when he meets up with 13 Indian Organizations.

So, should we not give him another chance?

We gave him that chance in 2004 when he asked for a BIG MANDATE, and he was delivered 92% of the parliamentary seats.

Unfortunately, that also means the people would have no opposing voices and votes in parliament as the legislative body bulldozed all and every piece of legislation without consulting the people. But they claims they had, for they consulted those who had no ears and no hearts except hands that were used to carry balls and curry favors.

4 years; 4 years had passed. Now we have no more rights to assembly peacefully to highlight our plights, to tell the government that we are not happy about certain aspects of the rules and actions. We also cannot celebrate International Human Rights day. We also cannot asked for a fair and just election. We have water cannons and tear gas as our companion and heartfelt warm. We also have the ISA to protect us.

4 years, and he wants another 4 years. In the last 4 years, we had Close-One-Eye which was closed with no-eye-see. We have Istana Zakariah of which scores of orphans get a chance to sleep in a giant exquisite bed, for once in their lifetime. We had IPCMC which was baptized to become SCC. We had organized crimes of which the officer who arrest the suspect was now charged for wrongful use of helicopter and the suspect was freed by the Deputy Home Minister on advice by AG. We had no more news on APs because there is strategic alliances which they call win-win. We had so many high profile corruption cases that were closed on advice by AG. Most of all, we had so many murdered cases of which the accused all were freed without their defence being called for the reasons of failure to adduce either the actus reus or the mens rea required. We had, had, had, had, ... just so many (please help me, readers!!!)

Now, we have another promise, a far greater promise than before; promises of:

A greater sense of irresponsibility, strive even harder to ensure prosperity, harmony and development projects for ...we know who;

That he value relationship and harmony by way of suppressing demonstrations because there's this thing called Silent Majority, a group of Damais who tried to represent 27 million citizens;

That he value justice and the rule of law, by selecting a favored-man from within a oligarch system to head an explicit impartial justice system that is supposed to dispense natural justice without fear or favor, without connectivity to bizio-political patrons, without the need for honorifics; and the Lingham video which highlight the extremely good and cordial relationship between lobbied-justice and business;

That we also have ministers who calls us monkeys, Gobloks, and who spend most of their time in parliament debating AirAsia stewardess dresses, leaking once a month, red beans that shits red, “Like wanita putus haid" (MP for Jerai Badruddin Amiruldin) , “Its unusual for women’s issues to be touched by men” (Mohamed Aziz, the MP for Sri Gading), “Boleh masuk sikit?” (Bung Mokhtar the MP for Kinabatangan), “Asked a fellow parliamentarian if he knows how long Fong Po Kuan’s marriage would last” (Jerai Badruddin), dilapidated parliament is like an old woman who had lost her beauty (Samy Vellu), "Come fight outside" (Sothinathan to Fong Po Kuan at parliament session), and the kicking match at Kelantan State Assembly.

That his son did not get any government projects which so happens to get by accidental management;

That his son-in-law still haven't found a vocation but can afford to buy millions of shares with monies from good friend Kali and driving a 4WD brand new and calling chief ministers to meet him which was denied;

That he accidentally sleep on the wrong bed and woke up ... and remarried;

That he went for holiday in Perth and accidentally and coincidentally there was a great flood in the months of Nov and Dec which was unknown unknowns;

That he ... he deserves another term because he has far greater dreams for us.

I believed and think he deserve it. I think so!!!

"I'll do it without feeling guilty, without feeling sad"

2007-12-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

From Asia Times Online: Abdullah Revives Malaysian Authoritarianism

Abdullah revives Malaysian authoritarianism
By Ioannis Gatsiounis

KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi took to the premiership four years ago, postured as a humble, well-meaning repairman. His words cut past Malaysia's shiny facade to fix the ethnic, social and economic fissures that after years of official neglect had worn away at the multi-racial country's foundations.

He spoke of good governance, of weeding out corruption, of closing one of the region's largest rich-poor divides. He introduced Islam Hadhari, a "balanced" approach to the faith that lightly hinted all was not right with Malaysia's deeply political and increasingly conservative brand of Islam. And he delivered his message with a soft voice and sensitive gaze that seemed in retrospect sincere about defusing deep-seated political and racial resentments.

In the time since, Malaysia has spiraled toward political instability, culminating in three major street demonstrations over the last five weeks. The latest demonstration occurred last Tuesday outside of Parliament and involved a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) objecting to a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the term of the election commission’s chairman. Last month an estimated 20,000 people turned up downtown here calling for electoral reforms. All the rallies were deemed illegal, as the government refused to issue permits and have resulted in violent crackdowns and dozens of arrests.

The embattled leader accuses the protestors of threatening national stability and on Monday said he would not hesitate to authorize use of the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial, adding, "I'll do it without feeling guilty, without feeling sad." On Thursday, he made good on his word, signing detention orders for five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which recently held a 10,000-strong rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur to protest the perceived marginalization of Malaysia's Indian community.

A long-standing affirmative action program subsidizes the majority Malays, though Indians are economically the worst off among Malaysia's three main ethnic groups: the Malays, Chinese and mostly Tamil Indians. The Malay-led government has labeled Hindraf "terrorists" via official statements and over the state-controlled media.

Abdullah's strong-arm tactics, however, do not address the root cause of the socio-political crisis, nor will they easily resolve the boiling situation. Sources of resentment and division include the country's affirmative action program, which favors the majority ethnic Malays over minority groups, and a brand of Islam which is slowly but surely encroaching into the public and political sphere. Badawi's ruling party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), has made a habit during its five-decade rule of squelching dissent and brazenly proceeding as it sees fit.

But this go-round of protests - the first major demonstrations in 10 years - is a potentially explosive culmination of long neglected grievances. The 1998 reformasi demonstrations, in contrast, targeted official corruption. The judicial crisis of 1988, which caused a split within UMNO and effectively ended the judiciary's independence, did not lead to judicial reform. The race riots of 1969, which violently pitted ethnic Malays against Chinese, gave rise to the still in-effect affirmative action program known as the New Economic Policy (NEP), which intended to help the Malays reach economic parity with the Chinese. It has been abused by well-to-do Malays and still has yet to reach its stated aims.

The first serious call for review of the current crisis began last year. And staunch resistance to changing the status quo within UMNO persists. When a video tape surfaced in September showing a prominent lawyer allegedly brokering judicial appointments with a chief justice, Abdullah's de facto law minister and other senior officials defended the integrity of the judiciary while impugning the whistleblowers.

The government's habit of reacting to crises by digging in its heels - rather than redressing them through legal prosecutions and reforms - has contributed to what was already an uneven brand of development. Economically, in broad terms, Malaysia has performed well. Poverty is expected to fall below 3 % by 2010; unemployment is low; Malaysia now imports, rather than exports, labor.

But socially and institutionally, it has not kept pace. Innovative and critical thinking is famously in short supply, while race and religion dominate the political landscape and are now seriously threatening national stability. The judiciary and media and other key institutions are widely seen to lack credibility, while the government dismisses recent international concerns over its abuses, including last week by the US, as an "internal affair".

Failed expectations
It wasn't supposed to be like this. By the time Abdullah took over for his authoritarian predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, it was already apparent that Malaysia's lopsided economic growth was unsustainable. Abdullah's repairman rhetoric was for many Malaysians apt, uplifting, and unifying - a much-needed political reality check. He has since failed to deliver on most of those pledges, many feel.

Some of Abdullah's defenders have explained this away as a matter of a well-meaning leader up against an entrenched government system. But this explanation doesn't absolve him for the numerous scandals linked to his administration. His deputy internal security minister, former director general of the anti-corruption agency, and the inspector general of police have all faced allegations of corruption.

The attorney general has declared them all clean, raising in some quarters serious questions about Abdullah's and his administration's political will to push for more rule by law. Some scandals have even allegedly involved Abdullah's own family members. In 2005, an independent inquiry into then Iraqi leader Sadaam Hussein's oil-for-food scandal cleared Abdullah of involvement, but implicated two of his relatives for paying bribes to Iraqi officials.

His ambitious son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin is now busy establishing a foothold in both business and politics - counter to Abdullah's initial promises to break the perceived corrupt nexus of government and big business seen under his predecessor. In particular, Kairy was involved in a controversial merger between the privately held and relatively unknown ECM Libra Capital and a major government-linked company, Avenue Capital.

Complaints of foul play have even come from within the ruling party: Then Information Minister Kadir Sheikh Fadzir claimed the 2004 general election, which swept Abdullah to power with an overwhelming majority, was the most corrupt he had witnessed in his decades-long career. To be sure, Abdullah has inherited a race-based political system that many say is outdated and increasingly inimical to the country's future. But despite the once-grand rhetoric he has not checked the tendency of leaders in his camp to play the race card for political gain.

By many accounts race relations have worsened under his watch and UMNO's senior politicians have not helped matters. The party's annual assembly last year was among the most racially charged in the party's 50 years in power. This year's was quieter, but on the whole the party is showing few signs of parting with its discriminatory strategy to maintain power. After the Hindraf rally, the state of Malacca's chief minister was quoted saying, "The Malays have never taken to the streets, so do not force us to do so as we will draw our parang [machete] to defend [Malay supremacy] in this country."

For his part, Abdullah justified Thursday's use of the ISA against political opponents on the grounds that it was necessary for "national stability", but thought better of applying it against senior UMNO members who publicly threatened to use violence against Malaysia's minority communities. (For an interview clip with opposition leader Syed Husin Ali on the ISA, click here.) A deeper problem, however, is the unwillingness of all the races to think pro-actively about what their respective communities can do to bridge the racial divide.

Political analysts say the finger is always pointed at the "other", while the government maintains that the solution is not to talk about differences. Some here are puzzled by how dramatically Abdullah’s agenda has veered from its stated course. But that is to negate his political past and unwavering support for the oppressive culture of his dominant UMNO party, which harks back to his days as a Cabinet minister under Mahathir.

After the opposition rode a wave of public outrage over official abuse to score significant electoral gains in 1999, four opposition leaders and a newspaperman were charged with offenses against the state. Mahathir was on vacation at the time, leaving then deputy Abdullah to deny that it was a case of "political revenge" and saying the often perceived pliant courts were "the best place for them to prove their innocence".

During the reformasi period, Abdullah also warned street demonstrators of "very tough" action. He famously accused Al Gore of supporting "terrorism" and inciting riots when the then-US vice president gave a speech here applauding Malaysian demonstrators for championing democracy and justice.

"He sounds like the [previous] PM [Mahathir], he is crude in his attacks on the opposition," said Nasir Hashim, president of Malaysia's Socialist Party at the time, in an analysis that many Malaysians will find apropos of the present, adding that Abdullah's "insecurity" over his inter-party support led him to sound and behave like other UMNO leaders.

The fact that Abdullah hasn't garnered support and built up connections in the traditional UMNO way, including through developing strong business ties, helps to explain why he has recently taken his hard authoritarian turn against the political opposition. Indeed, if Abdullah were to have fulfilled his initial pledges, the 68-year-old leader would have had to first change himself, to put the national interest above his party's, to cultivate the moral authority to stand up to the entrenched and often corrupt interests in his own midst.

On Friday, a day after signing the ISA detention orders, Abdullah met with 13 NGO's to discuss issues affecting the Indian community. This seemed duplicitous to many, after weeks of street demonstrations and the prime minister insisting the protests were not an acceptable way for Malaysians to voice their complaints and grievances - though also unwittingly suggesting that it was street demonstrations that finally got his ear.

His administration's use of the ISA, overtly targeting what the government has referred to as Indian "terrorists", simultaneously sent a message to the ground swell of dissatisfaction with Abdullah's leadership, which increasingly cuts across all ethnic lines. Still, many are predicting the ruling coalition Abdullah leads to handily win the general elections, widely expected to be called in the first quarter next year.

Indeed, without systemic electoral reforms, the cards are once again stacked in the UMNO-led coalition's favor. It controls the political machinery - the media, the national purse strings, the election commission, even the school curriculum, where university students and academics are required to take a pledge promising to "always be loyal" to the government. A resounding electoral victory will reinforce the status quo, but is unlikely to rescue Malaysia from its growing political impasse.

Ioannis Gatsiounis, a New York native, is a Kuala Lumpur-based writer.

"ISA action based on wishes of silent majority"

2007-12-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

ISA was majority wishes

Prime Minister Pak Lah said the ISA and all the measures taken against demonstrators are Actions based on wishes of Silent Majority.

So, we must now understand why the police sprayed chemical water and water canons on the demonstrators because it's the wish Silent Majority.

NSTP and TheStar had in fact revealed that Silent Majority.

Damai Malaysia, an umbrella body comprising 395 non-governmental organizations representing nearly 1.5 million members, was named by the two newspapers as the group representing Silent Majority.

Damai went to the Sg Besi airport and was allowed into the military base compound to hand over a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. These group of people never need to apply for police permit to assemble; they were even welcome to the military base to submit the memorandum. They are not considered as illegal by the police and Attorney-general. And they are the Silent Majority. The memorandum criticised recent illegal street demonstrations, which Damai said had caused problems and created tension among Malaysia's multiracial population.

So, if anyone wants to blame, don't blame Pak Lah. He is a prime minister that acted in accordance with the Silent Majority. But the Silent Majority's memo was delivered only recently on 13th Dec and the actions against demonstrators and the ISA arrest was made much earlier than the memo? Oh, because the PM can predict and forecast, that the Silent Majority would protest against street demonstration and had wanted the ISA used on those who are considered subversive.

In fact, about 1,000 UMNO division leaders and members were disappointed with the government of Pak Lah for being "Too Slow" in using the ISA to detain people suspected of subversion.

According to sources who attended a closed door briefing for some 1,000 Umno division leaders and members at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, party members had voiced their disappointment that the government didn't arrest the demonstrators immediately after their illegal rallies last month.

"Some even used harsh words against the leadership for being too lenient with street demonstrators. They don't want the government to tolerate troublemakers and militants," said a source. (lawyers are now classified as militants and troublemakers??? Bersih can also be classified as troublemakers and militants??? Hindraf is a militant???)

After the briefing, Umno Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, one of the party leaders who briefed the party members, admitted that some members were angry with what they perceived as the government's "slow response" to the problem.

"There were some members who asked why action was slow in coming. It took some time for the decision to be taken because the prime minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) did not want to be hasty in making the decision."

He said the decision to detain the troublemakers under the ISA was only invoked after the government received strong feedback from the public. Sources confirmed that the mood of those 1,000 participants here yesterday was in favour of the detention without trial for the troublemakers.

"It was the will of the people (to invoke the ISA), and not the will of the leaders," Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said.

Do you hear? UMNO was in favour of detention without trial for the "classified Troublemakers"? And it was the will of the people to invoke the ISA and not the will of the leaders? Do you all hear it clearly?

In fact, the Prime Minister was soft and sympathetic to those Hindraf supporters and demonstrators, particularly those who were arrested at Batu cave and charged for Attempted Murder.

The Prime Minister in fact called on the Attorney-General to consider the pleas by the parents of the 31 Hindraf supporters for their charges of attempted murder to be dropped. Prime Minister said the parents' appeal should be considered as soon as possible.

"The Attorney-General told me that the supporters said they had been misled by the promises made by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) and that they rejected Hindraf's activities. I feel sorry for them because they were misled," Abdullah said yesterday.

Speaking to the press after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting, Abdullah said: "I have therefore told the Attorney-General to consider their representations as quickly as possible."

Thirty-one Hindraf supporters were charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Dec 5 with attempted murder of police officer Dedi Abd Rani during the demonstration on Nov 25.

Parents of the 31 protesters then met with MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and requested his help to secure their release.

Observing all the above news spinned by NST, we can conclude that we had a reasonable government, who would not simply arrest illegal assembly if the assembly are deemed "reasonable" (example: Damai Malaysia's illegal assembly at Sg Besi & Khairy and UMNO Youth assembly at the American Embassy at Jalan Ampang). The govt would only act if they consider the demonstrators to be subversive and a threat to public safety; for as long as the govt did not deemed it at such, you can assemble and protest against all others, such as, American Embassy, protest against DAP and PKR or Hindraf, protest in support of government action even though some may think it was wrongful acts or corruptive acts, cronyism or nepotism. In fact, the government warns that they are prepared to take the "necessary actions" using the ISA as requested by the Silent Majority and the 1,000 UMNO leaders; and the govt will heed UMNO petition not to be "Too Slow" to arrest.

For As long as...

Lets be partners of those mold, the Oligarchy; the Zakism, Musasm, Kharism, Taibism, Zamism, Nazism, harlotism (this harlotism is coined from zorro's doctrine)

"Malaysia's a good place for investors"

2007-12-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

His Quote Is So Fake/Imbecilic That The MSM Has To Put Extra Inverted Commas?

Wow, someone who failed Statistics trying to pretend to be like an economist!

The MSM saw it coming, that they had to put extra 'spice' to his quotes nowadays?

[Source] Ladies and gentlemen, try your luck on today's 'Count-the-number-of-inverted-commas' game today!

On a more serious note, here is the just-released 25 Most Attractive FDI Destinations in 2007. See how a former war-torn communist country has surpassed us.

1. China

2. India

3. United States

4. Britain

5. Hong Kong

6. Brazil

7. Singapore

8. United Arab Emirates

9. Russia

10. Germany

11. Australia

12. Vietnam

13. France

14. Canada

15. Japan

16. Malaysia

17. Other Gulf States

18. South Africa

19. Mexico

20. Turkey

21. Indonesia

22. Poland

23. Central Asia

24. South Korea

25. Czech Republic

Source: A.T. Kearney

"I'm willing to sacrifice public freedoms for the sake of national stability"

2007-12-11T12:42:00.000-08:00

Dear PM, Where is your Big Ears?

Dear PM,

I do agree that national stability is of utmost importance and that public freedom would have to be sacrificed when necessary, but only if the national security is at stake.

But national security is not self security, nor security to ensure that you stay in power by sacrificing the people of the nation. At such, when you dwell on national security, it must be the security of the nation as a whole, that is, the nation is threatened by external forces bend on destroying the social fabric and cause turmoil, insecurity and the destruction of peace.

However, the lawyers walk for freedom did not at any instance threatened the national security. They were responsible people and had carried out their walk in a peaceful manner, to commemorate the International Human Right's Day. By contrast, when Khairy led a group of people to the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, they were shouting and behaving mischievously. Yet, you did grant them the permission to act like hooligans. That event in fact can be construed as a threat to national security; yet nothing, nor any legal action was taken against them. is it because he is your son-in-law?

Dear PM, please do not take our freedom for granted. Please do not take our rights for granted. You said you have big ears and you did hear us; but so far, it seems you have little ears and are only listening to the few that surrounds you.

You are suppose to be the leader of a nation, not a leader in your family, nor a leader to you kitchen cabinet.

So, please Mr PM, get out of your cocoon and start observing the peoples' plight and frustrations before they decide to vote you out.

"I'm Happy With The Report"

2007-12-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

MSM GEICs: "You Want Feel Good Survey On The Front Page, Boss? We'll Give You Front Page"

All the Wongs and Kalis say together: "You Want Feel Good Survey On The Front Page, Boss? We'll Give You Front Page"

Okay, starting from the 25th of November, by the Merdeka Center...

[Source]

A happy happy birthday present on the 26th of November [unlike Natty's :(]

[Source]

He wants more! On the 1st of December!

[Source]

Exclusive! Exclusive! Now it's really the front page - on the 5th of December.

[Source]

Also, "Look, we spin but our circulation still increases"

[Source]

Maybe Malaysiakini should also do a front page stating that how their subscription increases and even exceeded their bandwith the day HINDRAF really broke out.

Bravo! Look how happy your boss can be, the next day, on the 6th of December...

[Source]

And yes, the next day, on the 6th of December, Wong jeles of Kali running the 'exclusive' front page, he decides to put up this too. Yup, the '1250-people' survey.

[Source]

7th of December

8th of December

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.
.
.
.

Fill in the feel-good survey MSM front page as you may...

Related posts:

1. Doc Mave: Indoctrination by Spinning & Survey.

2. Walski: Statistically Stupid

"Fair to all"

2007-12-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

Judge for Yourself!

Judge us by the progress brought to the people, says Pak Lah.

"Society, be it Malays, Indians or Chinese, will gauge us by the level of progress and development we bring to the people irrespective of race," PM said.

"I have big ears"

2007-12-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

Pak Telinga Besar-Lah

~lang, Work With Me, Not For Me, Tell Me The Truth...and now, I Have Big Ears.

[Pic source]

He knows that we are angry? Awww....

But didn't he already knew that back in March 2006, just after the fuel hike protests?

[Source: Doc Mave]

Here's another IQ-Ling-Ling quote from him:

"Comparing the republic to the whole of Malaysia would be like comparing a durian with a mango.

"To be more realistic, you have to compare an apple with an apple," he said.

PM open to MIC proposals

2007-11-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile, MIC President and Works Minister Samy Vellu said Prime Minister Pak Lah is sympathetic and open to proposals forwarded to him by the MIC leadership concerning socio-economic ills affecting the Indian community.

Samy Vellu said PM had directed his deputy, Najib Razak, to study the proposals and work with the MIC leadership to conduct periodic reviews to address the plight of the Indian community.

"The periodic review is to ensure that the proposals agreed to are carried out effectively,"Sam said. Samy added that the proposals included budget allocations under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to ensure that the Indian community would not be marginalised when the country achieved its "Vision 2020" aspirations.

"We have to be fair so as to ensure harmony"

2007-11-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, idealism remains illusory. Instead, the obtuse crescendos gets convoluted and are constructed as objectivity threats on national security and a disruption of racial harmony. However, this view is not applied homogeneously and uniformly; exceptions are granted if it's from the oligarchy.

It seems eminent that the only possible effective tool is to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) to handle the situation. Prime Minister Abdullah said using the [ISA] law, which allows for detention without trial, would be "preventive" action to spare the country untoward incidents that could affect its peace and national security. “The ISA is there, if the situation warrants it, it will be used,” PM said.

The interesting and puzzling point made is from the prime minister himself.

On calls by certain quarters for the ISA to be invoked against illegal street demonstrators, Abdullah said: “I am very surprised that people want the ISA. I thought they never wanted it.”

Who were those who calls for the ISA to be invoked? Again, it must be those within the oligarchy. So, what's right is only from the coterie group.

PM Abdullah said the Government must be fair to all. “If we focus on the interest of one group, others will be jealous, others will complain,” PM said. It sounds coquettish. If the government truly wanted to be fair, then the NEP must be extended to all the poor, irrespective of race, religion or creed. Zakaria, a railway gatekeeper can afford to built palaces and further acquiring more state lands to enlarge the palace while the ordinary Malays are struggling to earn sufficiently to pay for the daily groceries and home expenses. Kuala Dimensi and the Faizal groupings were allowed to gain billions from the PKFZ deal from a land belonging to Koperasi Nelayan who received pittance in exchange. Khairy at 28, is said to be a billionaire while still being jobless and without a salaried vocation. Scomi has grown from a condom salesman business to a conglomerate that include an oil and gas and monorail and train fabricator. Gerbang Perdana was given $292.4 million compensation for driving one pile... many, many more!!!

"Use more dignified ways"

2007-11-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

Pak Lah: Broom not dignified.

Pak Lah do not agree with Khir Toyo on Brooms. He said brooms are not dignified and he prefers the use of more effective methods to enhance the performance of these agencies.

Abdullah said state governments should consider a “dignified” formula to discipline under-performing government agencies rather than use demeaning methods as the broom had slighted the feelings of the officers.

The officers felt humiliated and PM said the award should be scrapped. Abdullah said awards which are considered unnecessary or not well accepted by the majority should be avoided.

It is suggested that those underperformers should be given gold or diamond broom which is less demeaning. This way, the officers will not be humiliated and instead they would be far motivated.

"Rally a move to draw monarchy into politics"

2007-11-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Rally is seen as a move to get the King to act, to protect the people, his rakyat from abuses and to protect democratic principles as enunciated in the constitution. That's not dragging the King into politics, for the King cannot be drag as he is far more intelligent and wiser than many of us, including the PM and DPM, and Kalimullah. That statement is contempt and a disrespect to the King. It's seditious!

Malaysia orders companies to reveal recruitment figures by race

2007-11-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

Malaysia orders companies to reveal recruitment figures by race

The Associated Press

Published: September 11, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian executives urged the government Tuesday not to make race a criterion for hiring, reflecting fears that some companies will have to employ more ethnic Malays at the expense of minority Chinese and Indians.

Companies listed on Malaysia's stock exchange are generally expected to have a significant number of employees from the Malay majority. The rule — part of affirmative action policies to help Malays — has not been strictly enforced, but most large firms mix Malay staff with Chinese and Indians.

Though Malays are in a majority in the population, ethnic Chinese have long dominated the country's commercial sector.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced Friday that starting next year, publicly listed firms must disclose their employment composition by race as part of efforts to boost corporate social responsibility.

The directive has prompted debate about whether the government might pressure companies to ensure that their racial mix mirrors Malaysia's ethnic makeup more closely.

Puan Chan Cheong, managing director of broadband technology provider Green Packet Bhd., said firms need to hire people who are "the best fit for the job, regardless of race," in order to compete internationally.

"We employ according to merits," Puan told The Associated Press. "Competency is the key consideration, not racial composition."

Gooi Seong Lim, managing director of investment holding company Crescendo Corp. Bhd., said the company sometimes has no choice but to recruit mostly Chinese and Indians for civil engineering works because there are too few Malay candidates.

"I believe the government will be reasonable," he told the AP. "It would be very difficult to conform to a strict racial breakdown."

Malays comprise about 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people. Chinese form some 25 percent, Indians nearly 10 percent and the rest belong to other minorities. The ethnic communities have coexisted peacefully since racial riots left at least 200 dead in 1969. They were sparked by Malay frustration over Chinese wealth.

The New Straits Times newspaper quoted Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop as saying the government will not necessarily penalize companies that fail to have employees from all races after the new directive takes effect next year.

"We are not saying we will take action," the Times quoted him as saying. It was not immediately clear how the new directive would be enforced.

Decades-old affirmative action policies — geared toward helping Malays catch up with the Chinese by giving them privileges in areas like education, housing, bank loans and government contracts — are one of Malaysia's most politically sensitive subjects.

"Illegal assembly challenges country's laws"

2007-11-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

[Source]

"Stop Being Afraid"

2007-11-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

“Tun Ahmad Fairuz has retired and we thank him for his outstanding contribution to our judicial system"

2007-11-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Good Riddance, But...

And so he 'retires'...

Ahmad Fairuz retires as CJ
by Maria J. Dass

PUTRAJAYA (Nov 01, 2007): Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim has retired as Chief Justice (CJ) of the Federal Court of Malaysia when his term ended on Wednesday.

Court of Appeal President Datuk Abdul Halim Mohamed has been appointed the acting CJ, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday “Tun Ahmad Fairuz has retired and we thank him for his outstanding contribution to our judicial system and hope that he will continue to serve the country with his experience,” he said.

“The vacant position, according to regulations, has to be filled, so we will fill the post with the second person in line, that is the Court of Appeal President Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamed.

“,” he told reporters after meeting angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha and Capt Dr Faiz Khaleed at his office.

Good riddance, but 'serve the country' some more? Thanks, but no thanks.

To quote:

He will take of the position first until a permanent person is found

Get the drift? The same applies to thyself who is 'gila kuasa'?

Meanwhile, a staged 'sandiwara' before the GE? If that's a 'big fish', where's the 17 more? ;-)

Malaysian PM rules out coalition merger over race

2007-10-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

Malaysian PM rules out coalition merger over race

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR
Tuesday, Oct 09, 2007, Page 5

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has vetoed a proposal to merge the 14 parties in the ruling coalition, which supporters said would transform Malaysia's race-based politics.

Political parties in Malaysia are based mainly on racial lines, and the component parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) represent Malay Muslims as well as Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

Critics say that the structure, conceived when Malaysia was formed 50 years ago after the end of the British colonial era, is outdated and responsible for heightening racial tensions in the country.

However, Abdullah insisted the system ensured proper representation for all and that it would stay.

"I do not say that it is impossible but right now, it is not practical," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times yesterday.

The prime minister said that under a unified system, factions from different ethnic groups could emerge and promote their own candidates.

"The current approach is good as it allows all races to voice out their concerns, with problems being jointly addressed by the component parties," he told state news agency Bernama.

Gerakan youth chief Mah Siew Keong said at the party's youth conference last week that all coalition members should merge into one party to enhance national unity.

Another coalition member, the Malaysian Indian Congress, disagreed with the call for a consolidation.

"If the parties join together, the minority communities will become a small kacang [bean] in a curry," party president Samy Vellu told Bernama.

Wake Up, Little One; Wake Up, Number One

2007-10-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

Wake Up, Little One; Wake Up, Number One

The NaSTy group made a very bad and distasteful choice today - by choosing to feature a very sensitive topic affecting their political master - sleeping.

[Source]

"Wake up, little one"? Little did they know that it could imply this:

Nguapppp.....zzzz.z..zzzzzzzzz...zzzz...

"We've come to the verge of disaster"

2007-10-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

Abdullah Ahmet Bedevi: "Malaysia on the Verge of Disaster" (according to Sabah)

Yet another article from Sabah. (Turkey's Sabah, not Malaysia's).

[Source]

"I don't know the word cronyism"

2007-09-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

Pak Lah Doesn't Know The 'Crony' Word; Zam Should Remind Him That "Malays Thrive on Cronyism"

Apologies for the delay to blog about this but the statement by Zam just cropped out of my mind recently.

Pak Lah’s latest “I don’t know” : The word 'cronyism'

[Source]

Perhaps he needs Zam to remind him that Quote "The Malays thrive under the crony system" Unquote.

[Source: The Star, circa 21st August 2006; Newspaper scan by Doc Mave]

"My Goats Were Stolen"

2007-08-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Kambing PM pun Kena Curi

Aiya, Kambing punya PM pun kena curi, aiche ada dengar ka?

Apa cakap, aneh?

Aiya, you talak dengar ka? Kambing punya PM kena curi lah.

Apa lu cakap? Apa Kambing PM di curiga?

Ya lah! PM kena curi ... dia punya kambing Jamnapari.

Mana lu dengar khabar tu?

Anei dengar surat khabar cerita lah.

Mana surat khabar ada cakap?

Itu Utusan.

Utusan Melayu mana ada cerita, aneh?

Bukan Utusan Melayu lah. Bukan Awang Tak Selamat lah.

Ini Utusan Sarawak lah.

Dia cakap, dia punya Endon suka batik, songket dan Jeanne suka kambing dan sayur.

Dia cakap, ini kepimpinan melalui teladan lah!

“I call someone else’s name but a different person appears”

2007-08-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

Tuesday August 21, 2007

Endon’s work will go on

KUALA LUMPUR: Yayasan Budi Penyayang will get all the support it needs to carry on with its good work, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister said the foundation, a brainchild of his late wife Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, “is here to stay.”

He said the filial work of his children, Nori and Datuk Kamaluddin, in continuing their mother’s charitable activities would bring more of God’s blessings to the late Endon.

Nori is Penyayang chairman while Kamaluddin is a member of the board of trustees.

“They can continue the good work that she carried out when she was alive, which was doing charity and helping the poor, less fortunate and the ill,” Abdullah said when opening Wisma Penyayang in Seri Kembangan near here in conjunction with Yayasan Budi Penyayang Founder’s Day.

Proud father: Abdullah kissing his daughter Nori after presenting a memento at the official launch of Wisma Penyayang. With them is Yayasan Budi Penyayang chief executive Leela Mohd Ali.

The prime minister talked about the chain effect of good work, saying that sacrifices made by forefathers, if emulated by the present generation, would bring much benefit to the nation.

In his speech, he admitted to still calling out his late wife’s name in moments of haste.

“People know I married again. Jeanne loved Kak Endon. There have been occasions when pressed for time, I called out Don but she (Jeanne) answered.

“I call someone else’s name but a different person appears,” he said, referring to Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, whom he married in June. She was also present.

Abdullah said that due to the special bond that his present wife shared with Endon, Jeanne did not mind at all when this happened.

In her speech, Nori said her late mother drove the foundation forward in its welfare work besides ensuring that talented youngsters were given an opportunity to succeed.

Abdullah later presented 11 Astro Scholarship Awards. Two recipients, Mohamed Hazeman Huzir and Stephanie Lee Su Ling, were presented the Datin Seri Endon Mahmood Award.

"I have been fair, I want to be fair, I'll always be fair"

2007-08-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Pak Lah said he has been fair, he wants to be fair and had always being fair. How did he define fair? Fair means my children should not get into public universities? Fair means I should not be given APs where the few cronies got tens of thousands each year? Fair means your son and son-in-law gets all the projects? Fair means we must suffer the social discrimination and marginalization which you called it as "Privileges" of the special class? Fair means let UMNO gets everything and anything they want and leave the left-overs to MCA and MIC?

"Student must face the law"

2007-08-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Cabinet accepted Wee Meng Chee's apology but,

PM Pak Lah said the law cannot forgive and will act accordingly.

I do agree that the law is paramount and those who breached the law must be taken to the court for justice to be served and seen to be done.

But, lets review whether our law is just and equitable...

2007-08-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

Photos

1 of 1

> " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18">

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has vowed to be "fair" to all faiths and urged minorities to be patient on legal disputes including freedom of worship, reports said on Sunday.

The premier also did not rule out parliament reviewing current laws to solve conflicts over jurisdiction between secular and religious courts, the reports said.

"I am your prime minister representing all races. I have to be fair to all," the Bernama news agency quoted Abdullah as saying during a visit to the state of Sabah on Saturday.

"I know these are serious issues. We cannot run away from this," Abdullah was also quoted in the Star and New Straits Times as saying, stressing however that "this cannot be rushed".

Malaysia's Buddhist, Christian and Hindu minorities have expressed fears over certain court verdicts that they said favoured majority Muslims despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion.

Among the most celebrated cases involved a Federal Court's decision rejecting a woman's bid for legal recognition as a Christian after renouncing Islam.

Born a Muslim, Lina Joy, waged a decade-long battle to have the word "Islam" removed from her national identity card. But the Federal Court threw out her case and said only the Sharia court can legally certify her conversion.

More than 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people are Muslim Malays and Islam is the official religion under the country's constitution.

The constitution defines the ethnic majority Malays as Muslims but it also guarantees freedom of religion. Minority Chinese and Indians are mostly Buddhists, Hindus or Christians.

- AFP/so

"Next time must listen to wife."

2007-07-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

After his visit to Russia and meeting up with Putin, Pak Lah had immediately implemented the Code Red doctrine. To prove and show how effective and efficient, all civil servants must now wear read tie or scarf and red panties.

However, Pak Lah made a mistake by picking the wrong tie. In fact Jeanne had selected the right tie for him but he wanted to prove to everyone, in particular, to prove to his children, that he do not take all recommendations and instructions from his wife, he opt for another red tie only to find that he was off-color. Pak Lah finally admitted: "Next time must listen to wife."

"Build strong case against corruption"

2007-06-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

"Wah, OXFORD Group Interviewed Abdullah and He Stated His Stand On Corruption, I'm Sooo Gonna Vote For 'Justice Bao'"

"Wahhh....OXFORD group interviewed him har, so kengchau/terrer! Talk about corruption summore. Like Justice Bao lar, I'm so gonna vote for him...."

That's what most of you might think after reading this Bernama news. You might even see this on your favourite MSM front pages tomorrow.

Sounds familiar? Yeah, you've heard him saying the same thing sometime ago.

And here's the (not FOC) report if you're interested:

Notice the affiliation of the report with the logos on the right?

Let's just read a snippet from the report:

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s priority for 2007 is the implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP). His government aims to invest RM200bn ($52.6bn) to push the country’s average annual economic growth to 6%. Abdullah, who was elected in October 2003, has abandoned what some see as the grandiose projects of the previous administration in favour of concentrating on human resources and agriculture, which his administration views as more sustainable in the long term. Along with the ruling Barisan Nasional, a coalition of 14 political parties, he is adopting a global outlook and has publicly pledged to reduce red tape for businesses operating in the country. The section includes interviews with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi; Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Syed Hamid Albar. Bridget Welsh, Assistant Professor, South-east Asia Studies, Johns Hopkins University contributes a viewpoint, as does US Congressman Gregory W Meeks

Er, is SJER not grandiose?

Just a simple Google search revealed what sort of that 'kengchau Oxford group' is all about:

[Source]

You remember the TV3 interview 'berani kerana benar/tulis surat' thingy?

9. Are you ready to open your door to those with such proofs to come and see you and give information?

A: Write a letter to me, and make a copy to others such as the police, the Anti-Corruption Agency or the related agencies. Show me the proof. I want an explanation on how he knows this happened. If these are lies, they are trying to hina (insult) me and the Government. How can they do that?

Well, here's a surat:

Not a surat layang: It has name attached to it.

Action by 'Justice Bao'? Neh, it's been rejected.

"Building Bridges Interfaith Conference Postponed, Not Canceled"

2007-06-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

'Building Bridges' Malaysia Conference: Cancelled or Postponed?

NaSTy said 'cancelled'

[Source]

Back in May, Bernama said 'postponed'

[Source]

Beyond 2020

2007-06-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hail Najib! But wait a minute...

It's only the beginning and more to come...

Prime Minister Pak Lah had also outlined a new Vision for the nation - Mission 2057!

Mahathir is too short-sighted; he only has a 30-years programme. Pak Lah has a 50-years programme...

Pak Lah envisaged that Malaysia will be high-achieving nation by 2057. We are preparing for it. In fact, we are discussing to buy over VW; we will be looking at buying up the top-Dow Jones companies. Khazanah will have that vision and mission to fulfill..it will be soon, very soon. We already have one of the world biggest Palm-Oil plantation groupings in Synergy-Drive, we have Petronas, one of the world's leading petroleum company and Scomi, one of the world's future gigantic corporation, who may even consider acquiring the American or European biggies. That's Vision 2057.

According to Pak Lah, soon, and very soon, though we don't know how soon, but it will be sooooon, Malaysia will become a top-north nation with top-notch offering to top-notch people. The nation will be able to retain and become top-notch. Though the American said we are top-notch in human trafficking and corruption, but we are still top-notch, irrespective. Top-notch means top-notch as long as we are top-notch.

Hail Pak Lah! Hail Najib! Hail ...????

"The Bill had been sent to Parliament and hoped it would be passed in the next sitting"

2007-06-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

The PM Doesn't Know A Parliament Bill Has Been Passed, So The Pathetic MSM Has To Spin It

According to Bernama, the official news agency of Malaysia:

[Source]

Quotes:

The prime minister said the government had drafted a Bill on human trafficking that would impose severe penalties on the perpetrators of the crime.

He said the Bill had been sent to Parliament and hoped it would be passed in the next sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.

Visibly upset over the report, Abdullah said: "I am not sure about the report...I do not intend to make any other statement, all I am saying is that we have sent a bill to parliament.

"We will do whatever we can to curb human trafficking and that is why we decided to have that bill," said Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister.

Now, see how the pathetic Star spins it:

[Source]

Quotes:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has shown its seriousness in tackling human trafficking, as seen in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill that was passed in Parliament last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

“I’ve read the report. We did whatever we could, but it was not enough. (Blogger's note: If you have 'read the report', why are you still 'not sure about the report'?)

According to the Opposition leader:

Secondly, Abdullah shocked Malaysians with his response to the United States Government listing of Malaysia among the human trafficking offenders, saying that the government had drafted a Bill on human trafficking that would impose severe penalties on the perpetrators of the crime and that he hoped that the Bill would be passed in the forthcoming meeting of Parliament beginning on Monday.

In actual fact, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on May 9, and among the MPs who took part in the debate were DAP MPs Dr. Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong), M. Kulasegeran (Ipoh Barat), Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah) and Teresa Kok (Seputeh). The Bill was passed by the Senate on May 24.

How could the Prime Minister be so misinformed as to make a faux pax as to publicly state that the Bill has yet to be sent to Parliament for passage?

Although the Prime Minister’s mistake was corrected by the mainstream media in the newspapers today, the error had been carried worldwide by international news wires yesterday and reported by the media in foreign countries.

Bloody pathetic spinning.

Also, read how Mergawati Zulfakar attempts to defend the denial syndrome with her column 'No need to get worked up over US report' on page N25 today (link still unavailable on the Views page despite half of the day gone). In the last paragraph, she also attempted to spin this faux-pax:

Malaysia has adequate laws to deal with the problem, including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill, tabled in April and passed by Parliament in May, which severely punishes those convicted for human trafficking.

For a more balanced opinion from the MSM on this matter, you would rather head over to theSun.

Last but not least, here is a cartoon by Zunar of Cartoonkini for those not quite initiated by MSM spins:

[Source]

Oh, it seems that he is going honeymooning (again) to Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy starting next Monday.

"Can you speed it up?!"

2007-06-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

(Re)Marriage Makes Him Stronger?

Bigger, bolder and ...oh, nvm. I'm not talking about that thing.

I'm talking about his most convincing phrase I saw on TV today:

"Can you speed it up?!"

I could easily give him a 60% approval rating for that. (The other 40% is for the question why bureaucrats (especially those dead wood) still would not commit harakiris and resign).

And was that his second surprise visit after the landmark takeover visit on 1st September to the Customs Department?

But would that make people forgive his Perth misgivings?

Even Malaysiakini, a strong critic of him, gave rave reviews to him via 'a political analyst'.

Baru 10 minit turun padang main bola? Time will tell?

"All the dates mentioned were wrong...that's why I said it was just a rumour."

2007-06-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

Did He Lied When He Denied?

He denied the public statement made... that statement was construed as Rumours.

But now he said it was the timing that was wrong when he denied.

So, the statement wasn't rumours, it was factual and real, except the timing was not right for him to announced it to the public. Timing does no concern about the truth, for the truth was the truth.

Then, was she with him in Perth then? Did they had secret affair all these years? If yes, then, would it be in accordance with Hadhari doctrine?

"I am well. Don't worry"

2007-05-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

Who Is The Blogger?

Who?

[Source]

FYI, a blogger will be appearing on national TV tomorrow night.

Unrated

posted by Howsy at 5:22 AM Comments (2) | Trackback (0) links to this post

Sunday, May 13, 2007

The Fainting PM? It's Been Officially Denied. Period.

UPDATED: Some snapshots from TV3's Nightline news at 12am.

" [...] of sleep and the heat, I'm relieved now, at first I was worried too."

Journalists bombarding him with questions...

....and more questions....

His physician, Dr Sanjiv Joshi, said everything is normal (refer to the below Bernama news).

The Sensintrovert stands by the usage of the word 'fainting'. Nobody knows (well, he denied it) whether he had fainted/collapsed.

Earlier breaking news by Rockybru here.

***

The fainting PM? It's been denied. Officially. Period. Well, almost:

May 13, 2007 21:43 PM

Abdullah Says Not To Worry, He's Alright

LUMUT, May 13 (Bernama) -- "I am well. Don't worry," said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, refuting a claim spread through the Internet that he had fainted while attending a people's feast at the launching of the Hadhari Square in Teluk Batik here Sunday afternoon.

"I will continue with the programmes that been arranged for me," he told reporters here Sunday night.

"The doctor had conducted several tests on me including ECG, blood and blood pressure and these were found to be normal," added Abdullah who was examined by his personal physician Dr Sanjiv Joshi.

Earlier when presenting the keys to nine recipients of houses built under the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) community service programme, at the people's feast, Abdullah appeared to be losing balance and almost collapsed but was held by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali and BNBBC acting chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar.

Abdullah who arrived in Perak this morning to close the BNBBC community programme, had earlier joined the BNBBC members in building homes for three families in Kampung Tanjung Burung in Ujung Pasir, Pantai Remis.

The Prime Minister continued with the gotong-royong by planting trees at Kampung Batu 4, Segari, near here, before moving on to Teluk Batik to close the community programme and join the people's feast.

“Our PM is not fond of chicken. For drinks, he prefers just kopi-O’’

2007-05-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Nasi Kandar Perth Chap Lap? Nevermind, You Fly Them To Melbourne!

Perth chap lap (close shop)?

Picture by Phil Brown via Screenshots.

Nevermind! You fly chefs all the way from KL to Melbourne!

Savouring nasi kandar in Melbourne
By PAUL GABRIEL

IT was not just a Malaysian cultural feast in the bustling city of Melbourne last week. Australians were also feted to Malaysia’s best-known dish – nasi kandar – in a posh five-star hotel ambience.
And how they all enjoyed tucking in to the various aromatic dishes prepared by five specially selected cooks from Original Kayu Nasi Kandar Sdn Bhd, who were flown from Kuala Lumpur to take on the challenge.
Playing host at the posh Crown Towers Hotel for 200 dinner guests was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his daughter, Nori.

Hard at work: Original Kayu Nasi Kandar catering manager Kosol Napatalung (right) and three cooks preparing the ingredients for the nasi kandar feast at the Crown Towers Hotel in Melbourne.

The special guest at the nasi kandar dinner was Janette Howard, wife of Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
Also present was newly-posted Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Penny Williams, and The Star’s group chief editor, Michael Aeria.
Earlier in the morning, Abdullah and Janette jointly launched a Nyonya Kebaya exhibition at the Immigration Museum. Most of the kebaya exhibits belonged to Abdullah’s late wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.
Those invited to the opening ceremony on May 3 were automatically on the list of the private dinner Abdullah hosted at 8.30pm the same day.
Original Kayu Nasi Kandar proprietor Buruhan Mohamad, who led his team of cooks to Melbourne, said it was a personal accomplishment for him since starting his nasi kandar businesss back in 1974.
“Australia has very strict food requirements and we were very impressed with their standards. We were put to the test and passed,’’ he added upon returning.
His nasi kandar fare is much proven here, but Buruhan knew that it would be back to square one as far as Australian taste buds were concerned.

Grand dinner: Original Kayu Nasi Kandar Sdn Bhd proprietor Buruhan Mohamad (standing, in suit) at the VVIP table, as a waiter serves Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (seated, centre) with kuih as dessert. At Abdullah’s right is Janette Howard, wife of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, while at his left is Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. The nasi kandar dinner was held at the Crown Towers Hotel in Melbourne on May 3.

“It was our first overseas engagement, and it was an important event for Malaysia. I flew there a week earlier to prepare ahead, came back to get the necessary stuff and flew back again,’’ he revealed.
Some 40kg of spices were flown in from Malaysia. Fresh meat, fish and vegetables were sourced Down Under.
After negotiating with the Crown Towers senior management for use of a section of the kitchen for cooking purposes, Buruhan’s team set out to work at 10am.
By the time it was 8.30pm, piping hot nasi kandar dishes were all ready to be savoured.
Buruhan’s catering manager, Kosol Napatalung, took charge of serving the VVIP table, where Abdullah, Janette, and Nori were joined by, among others, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and his wife Datin Seri Maznah, and Nori’s husband, Khairy Jamaluddin.
The opening course comprised roti canai and murtabak served with dhal gravy with lamb, followed by briyani with ayam rendang, beef rendang, kari ikan, sotong sambal and udang goreng.
“We were delighted when Janette asked for more briyani,’’ quipped Kosol, who is a Thai.
Buruhan said he was well-aware of Abdullah’s likings, and planned the menu accordingly.
“Our PM is not fond of chicken. For drinks, he prefers just kopi-O,’’ he revealed.
As such, desert consisted of pulut panggang, kuih talam, kuih bengkang, seri muka, teh tarik and kopi-O.
“We ordered 500 pieces of various kuih which were prepared by several wives of Malaysians residing in Melbourne,’’ he added.

Oh, he doesn't like chicken. But prefers to be one himself? ;-)

Thank you to The Star for this timely nasi kandar piece of article.

"Maybank must be fair to all"

2007-05-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

MayBank Debates Continue

Yesterday, Perak Malay Chamber of Commerce youth chairman Saiful Adli Mohd Arshad said the chamber fully supported Maybank’s requirement because it would help increase bumiputra equity, especially among professionals.

Maybank should always be “fair and just” to all, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister said the bank’s requirement that legal firms dealing with them must have a bumiputra partner with at least a 50% stake was never a government directive.

“It was their own internal administrative policy,” he said.

Catrade Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk IIyas Mohamed said the Cabinet directive appeared to be inconsistent with its own policy of assisting Malays in getting their share in the distribution of the nation’s wealth.

However, a Malay newspaper reported yesterday that Malay intellectuals were asking for Maybank to retain the 50% bumiputra stake requirement.

Asked about this, Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister, said there was “no need to ask Maybank to do this and that.” “They know what is needed,” he added.

Source

"Bring on United"

2007-05-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

SIL Must Be Pestering PIL...

...when the front page of a national newspaper look like this:

Malaysia MSM 101: Especially when a person carries your grandchild, just turn your local newspaper into your personal scrapbook.

"Civil servants to get pay rise"

2007-05-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues Washed Out With 'Civil Servant Pay Rise'; Elections on 19th May?

How great it is if you're a civil servant ~~enjoying your minum teh break~~ warming up to your work and hearing this piece of news.

May 07, 2007 09:29 AM

Civil Servants To Get Pay Rise - PM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7(Bernama) -- Civil servants will get pay rise because they deserve it, Primie Minister DatuK Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in Putrajaya today.

-- BERNAMA

" A stitch in time saves nine, so it is important to carry out regular maintenance"

2007-04-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

Putrajaya & Maintenance Contract

Entrepreneurial Development and Cooperative Minister Mohd Khaled Nordin said: "The standard of maintenance of Putrajaya buildings may have to be further enhanced.

According to Khaled Nordin government buildings in Putrajaya should be more sophisticated than elsewhere in the country and it is reasonable for JKR to re-look into the maintenance contract to see if all steps are taken to detect any defects or wear and tear in the building.

Does the government understand what is maintenance and what is maintenance management?

Maintenance of public buildings would have to deal with preservation and restoration of the facilities and infrastructures.

Maintenance management is basically concerned with the establishment of a framework for the maintenance of facilities, and it’s role is to set a standard of best practices on the management of building facilities, utilities and the upkeep of the building conditions.

It is a principle of conservation that work on a significant building should be based on a proper understanding of the building & its problems.

JKR and those responsible for maintenance management must have a Maintenance Management Framework (MMF) which consist of processes that assists them in establishing a framework for the maintenance of buildings. The primary objective of MMF is to achieve consistency in the planning, implementation & reporting of building maintenance and upkeep.

The establishment of condition standards for building is fundamental to the maintenance management process. It provides a statement of the desired condition to which assets should be maintained to enable a department’s service delivery requirements to be achieved effectively. The standards must be adequate to reflect the asset performance required to meet service delivery demand.

The application of condition standards to building involves a systematic process of reviewing all assets & nominating condition ratings that can be related to each element of each asset within the department’s asset portfolio.

Building condition standards must be articulated to the maintenance service provider & documented in procurement arrangements such as a SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT (SLA). Top level management must endorsed it. The standards will be used as referenced by the service provider within the day-to-day maintenance delivery process.

Dear Khaled and Samy Vellu, do you think JKR and Putrajaya maintenance department understand all this? Did they have the knowledge of maintenance management or are they supervisors of defects, ie wait till those plants, equipments and fittings fails or fails to work and then get the workers to repair them? This is repair management and it is damage control system, not maintenance management fundamentals.

Apart from this, do you all know how the government outsource their maintenance management and what was the criteria in the selection of contractors processes?

I once talk to a contractor who was awarded a contract for maintenance and he told me that he had sub-contracted it to another with a "nett" profit of 30%.

Dear Khaled and Samy, please go and check all your contractors and you will know almost all of them are "Ali-Babas" with 30% mark-up in their contract sum.

Paying a heavy price for lack of maintenance or the lack of a competent maintenance contractor?

The cost of maintaining Ijok is nothing!!!

"Race card won't work"

2007-04-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

Ya, in Ijok, race card won't work.

In Sabah and Sarawak, race card won't work.

In Kelantan and Trengganu, race card won't work (only religious card works)

But elsewhere, race card is the only card UMNO had to continue to exist and thrive. UMNO, MCA and MIC can only survive by playing up racial issues and projecting an absolute image based on race alone.

In Penang, UMNO is playing the race card so as to pressurized the BN government to rotate the chief minister post. UMNO Penang had been eyeing the CM post for decades without success. They had tried to drive a wedge between MCA and Gerakan and had even sub-divided their Malay-dominated seats into smaller fragment so as to built up their control of state representation. The Chinese majority seats have more than 10,000 voters but UMNO controlled state seats have only a few thousand voters.

Bukit Bintang parliamentary seat have more than 100,000 voters. Similarly, Kepong, Cheras, Jinjang, Petaling Jaya and Sungei Way too.

The speech above, wasn't it based on race card?

"Stop the public binkering, PM tells Johari and cops"

2007-04-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

Police vs Internal Security

The prime minister expressed his deepest concern and anxieties over the continuous bickering and blitzkrieg between the police and the internal security deputy minister.

"They should resolve the matter among themselves instead of making a public spectacle of it. This only aggravates the situation and makes the public lose confidence in the government ...," PM Pak Lah mourned.

The PM is visibly upset over his men for having the a shouting match in the public, reports NST (page 2, Prime News, NST, April 13, 2007).

Meanwhile, the police are standing firm by their crime figures.

At the same time, Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum is also not yielding.

Johari maintained that his crime figures are correct and he justified his statement claiming that he got the figures from the police.

The police claimed that the crime index had only increased by only, only, 10.1% and snatch thefts had dropped by 36.6%.

Johari had stated that the crime index had soared by 90% and snatch thefts had increase by 693.5%.

How could there be such a big gap? This question was posed by Kuala Lumpur Bar Council's criminal practice committee chairman, N. Sivananthan. Siva expressed the council's delight that the deputy minister was prepared to risks his job by going public to reveal the actual crime data.

Meanwhile, deputy IGP Mohd Najib has denied allegations that the figures were manipulated to confuse the public. "There is no cover-up, no manipulation and that there is nothing to hide."

It is observed that the figures was changed by the auditors. It would seemed that only the auditors could be able to give the public an explanation to the discrepancies and divergences.

Let's assume for the time being that the auditors figures are justifiable and correct. Afterall, they are certified and accredited auditors.

"Keep up the momentum going, civil servants told

2007-04-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

Civil Servants to be Blamed

Prime Minister Pak Lah said his government had created a strong economy and now it is up to the civil servants to ensure that it is sustained.

Pak Lah said even his critics admitted that they could see the change. This is what he had to pronounce:

"So far, we had done well and practised good stewardship of the government's fund. I (we) had spent where it was only needed and I (we) had reduced the budget deficit (created by Mahathir). Everyone is enjoying it as a result."

To Pak Lah, it is now up to the various agencies and the civil servants to allocate and disburse the funds as well as vetting the project. The people should not blame any failures or attribute any deficiencies to him or his ministry, the Ministry of Finance.

"The MoF is not the only one making decisions. We acknowledge the roles and responsibilities of other key agencies.

Why blame the civil servants?

Everybody knows that the civil servants had a boss who is the Minister himself, a politician from the ruling party whose decisions and attitudes are dictated and directed towards one direction - rent seeking and wealth enhancement for self and their family. Every JKR director-general knows that only, and only, Tan Sri Zaini can work so closely with Samy Vellu. Tan Sri Omar could not, Datuk Seri Wahid could not. I am not sure whether Datuk Razali, the current newly appointed D-G could or not. It is similar to other departments too. The political masters call the shot and issue directive on a personal basis regardless of efficiency and competency. The KPI for project awards are based on "what can that guy pay", not what is his competency. Other than this, it's connectivity and cronyism, pay-back to political supporters who had assisted those in the corridor of power.

"I don't think I can wait too long"

2007-04-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

Tuesday April 10, 2007

VW chief yet to turn up for Proton partnership talks

By JANE RITIKOS

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday that he could not be “waiting forever” for the Volkswagen chairman to meet him to discuss the possible partnership with Proton.

He said he was informed that the Volkswagen chairman had wanted to meet him here, so he waited for a while to meet him.

“I have not seen him yet,” he said. “I don’t think I can wait too long.”

The Prime Minister, however, declined to say how long he was willing to wait for the Volkswagen chief. “I will not tell you when, you just wait.”

Abdullah recently said the Government was considering allowing the German carmaker gain a controlling stake in the national carmaker.

A March 31 deadline by the Government to decide on a strategic partner for Proton was not met.

On the proposal to get bloggers in the country to register with the authorities, Abdullah said this needed careful study to ensure such a ruling could be implemented.

He said the registration of bloggers was not a policy at the moment.

Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor recently said in Parliament that bloggers using locally hosted websites might be asked to register as one way to prevent the spread of negative or malicious content on the Internet.

Abdullah also said that he was aware that many people were unhappy with the activities of bloggers who spread “fairy tales”.

On whether there would be a new law to govern bloggers, he said that there were already laws in existence to deal with the spread of false information.

On another matter, Abdullah said the Government was waiting for feedback from Saudi Arabia on the difficulties faced by Malaysians in obtaining visas to perform their umrah.

A daily had reported that the Saudi move to tighten visa requirements had affected more than 1,000 Malaysians.

On the Japan Times report that implicated Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in a scandal allegedly involving RM32mil in kickbacks paid by Japanese shipping companies for timber from Sarawak, Abdullah said he was not aware of such a matter.

Prime minister Pak Lah was pretty upset.

He had to wait for hours in order to meet Volkswagen chairman who had wanted to meet him. The wagen chaorman did not turn up.

The PM was extremely upset and said: "I don't think I can wait too long."

The PM was asked by reporters how long would he wait for Wagen to respond. PM declined to say how long: "I will not tell you when, you just wait."

That means he is willing to wait.

"Collecting rainwater should be practised by the people"

2007-03-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

It never crossed my mind that a landslide could happen in Putrajaya, but yet it happened"

2007-03-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

PM could never belief landslide could occur, of all places, in Putrajaya.

The prime minister said: "The terraced slope in Precinct 9 had undergone reinforcement work with the planting of hundreds of trees since 10 years ago. I was shocked to hear news about the landslide. It never crossed my mind that a landslide could happen in Putrajaya, but yet it happened,"

Twenty-five vehicles belonging to the residents were either buried by earth that came crashing down from the 50-metre high slope, or pushed against the walls of Block B, one of the three affected blocks.

"They thought the slope was already strong as there had been no reports of landslides here. "Probably, there are weaknesses that had been overlooked, but we are doing the tests. "

Is this a sign of bad chi? In Pak Lah's shocking words: "It never can crossed my mind that a landslide could happen, of all places, in Putrajaya but yet it happened."

Anti-graft war backfires in Malaysia

2007-03-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Anti-graft war backfires in Malaysia
By Ioannis Gatsiounis

KUALA LUMPUR - It has become evident to many Malaysians that Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's war on graft never really got started.

But few would have predicted that three years on, Abdullah and his family would become the target of a mounting chorus of accusations, linked to the same allegations of corruption, nepotism, and abuse of power that the once-reform-minded premier has so publicly campaigned against.

Much attention has focused on the meteoric rise of Abdullah's only son, Kamaluddin, and his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin - both for the most part political and business unknowns before Abdullah assumed the premiership in 2004. While their role cannot be overlooked in what increasingly has the markings of a family business empire in the making, Abdullah's approach to managing the country has done little to break the endemic patronage that has long hobbled Malaysia's political and economic progress. Indeed, his style of governance may in fact be encouraging it.

A turning point in Abdullah's premiership arguably came last October in the run-up to the general assembly for the ruling party he heads, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). At the time, Abdullah's promise to battle corruption "without fear or favor" was meeting resistance among the conservative party's old guard. Then, on the eve of the assembly, in an apparently unprecedented move by a Malaysian prime minister, Abdullah reportedly distributed RM3 million (more than US$856,000) to each division chief for "development" purposes.

Opposition critics at the time said the gesture smacked of vote-buying. Abdullah for his part has denied any foul play. At the very least, the gesture signaled to the party's old guard that Abdullah is as committed as his predecessor - former premier Mahathir Mohamad - to oiling UMNO's patronage machine. And even where the UMNO elite have not benefited directly from Abdullah's style of governance, they have been able to take stock in what appears to be a man being swallowed by the system he had earlier promised to change.

Most recently, Abdullah was accused of procuring a new $50 million jet for his personal use. The plane, he explained, was being leased from a government company for use by top officials, including the king. Either way, Abdullah's administration has shown a special fondness for the country's royal sultanates. His government directly awarded a RM400 million palace project to two little-known companies, Kumpulan Seni Reka and Maya Maju.

In response to the contract, opposition leader Lim Kit Siang asked in Parliament: "Who are [the companies]? Are they a crony company? Why wasn't there an open tender? Why wasn't there a contract? Why do we need this new palace?" Those questions are still being debated, but the opposition is making much hay of the allegations for its own political benefit.

Meanwhile, Abdullah's own family members have during his term likewise, fairly or unfairly, found themselves at the center of controversy. His son Kamaluddin's business activities, including his position as leading shareholder of Scomi Group, a local oil-and-gas company, have come under particularly sharp scrutiny. Scomi's share price skyrocketed 588% four months after listing on the local bourse in May 2003.

While the growth of Malaysia's energy industry has since certainly played a role in pumping up the company's shares, Kamaluddin's family clout is also thought to have inflated investor confidence. Mahathir, now a vocal Abdullah critic, estimates that Scomi has secured RM1 billion worth of government contracts during Abdullah's tenure. Industry analysts, meanwhile, are perplexed as to how Kamaluddin, 38, could suddenly be worth an estimated $90 million.

More controversially, a Scomi subsidiary, Scomi Precision Engineering, was fingered in 2004 by US and European intelligence officials for supplying dual-use centrifuges to Libya, which allegedly could have been used in the country's covert nuclear-weapons program. The company was hastily cleared of any wrongdoing by both the Foreign Ministry and police, even as the United States was applying pressure for full disclosure about Scomi's business dealings.

Defending family honor

Meanwhile, Abdullah has stoutly defended his son's independence as a businessman, saying that Kamaluddin "has never abused his ties with me ... He has never asked help from the government or anything that required a bailout for him." Abdullah has likewise defended his son-in-law Khairy's recent advances in politics and business, which have drawn opposition scrutiny.

Khairy, deputy chief of UMNO's youth wing, has been described in some political circles as "Malaysia's most powerful 31-year-old". Several of Khairy's closest confidantes are also known to be close to Abdullah, including businessman and newspaperman Kalimullah Hassan, whom the premier appointed editor-in-chief of the UMNO-controlled New Straits Times newspaper.

Both Khairy and Hassan have been linked to controversial financial dealings at ECM Libra-Avenue Capital. On December 27, 2005, ECM chairman Hassan along with two other company co-founders announced that they would each sell 1% of their shareholdings in the company to Khairy in a deal that was transacted at 71 sen per share, for a total of RM9.2 million. Khairy is on record saying that the deal was financed through the company, but many viewed his invitation to join ECM as a way to earn the company valuable political connections.

Soon thereafter, ECM acquired government-linked financial company Avenue Capital Resources and reportedly was not required to raise any outside capital to make the multimillion-dollar acquisition. Critics, including most prominently former premier Mahathir, say the deal lacked transparency. ECM has persistently denied any foul play.

Khairy has also been loosely linked to Khazanah Holdings, the state-run investment arm that Abdullah chairs and which manages an estimated RM25 billion worth of government funds. Two years ago, Khairy was widely tipped to become Khazanah's chief operating officer, but amid a public outcry the appointment didn't go through.

However, Ganendran Sarvananthan, 29, Khairy's close friend during his time in school in England, was in February 2006 appointed to the surprisingly senior position of Khazanah's executive director of investments.

It is of course entirely possible that there is no political connection to any of Abdullah's family's growing businesses, as the embattled premier has consistently argued. But with opposition criticism mounting, if Abdullah were true to his word about an "unconditional" anti-corruption drive, the authorities should have probed at least some of the allegations. To date, no such probes have been launched.

Rather, top appointments in the government's fight against graft could be viewed as hindering that process. Former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) officer Mohamad Ramli Manan recently filed a police report alleging that the ACA's current director general, Zulkipli Mat Noor, was involved in various crimes - from living beyond his means to sexual misconduct - when he was a top cop with the Royal Malaysian Police.

Ramli said the ACA had begun to investigate Zulkipli's conduct beginning in 1997, but since he filed his original complaint to the attorney general's office last July, there have been no signs that the relevant authorities plan to move on the case. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity last week decided to call both Zulkipli and whistle-blower Ramli in for closed-door hearings.

As currently constituted, the ACA is not an independent outfit, but rather reports to the Prime Minister's Office. The agency's corruption-related arrests have risen from 339 in 2003, to 497 in 2004, and 485 in 2005, but critics contend that the ACA has merely netted minnows and not any big fish. Indeed, some of the agency's once-prime suspects have later landed in the Prime Minister's Office as top-level appointees.

Transparency and accountability have also arguably been impaired by Abdullah's frequent use of the Official Secrets Act (OSA), which gives the government the right to classify as a state secret any document it deems to be sensitive to national security. The government has used the OSA in many instances to avoid scrutiny, including for deals it strikes without tender with politically connected private companies, opposition politicians say.

No-man mission

Abdullah has frequently said that the fight against corruption cannot be a one-man mission. But his actions have hardly inspired cooperation among the ruling elite, let alone at the grassroots. Instead, his government has moved to take down self-fashioned whistleblowers and maintained sharp curbs on the media. The UMNO-backed New Straits Times newspaper group, for instance, is currently suing two bloggers for defamation over postings that were sharply critical of the government, and Abdullah has in press interviews supported the legal action.

To be sure, an anti-corruption campaign waged by the leader of a party that arguably institutionalized the practice in Malaysia was bound to be a slippery slope. And after three years in power, should Abdullah try to recommit himself to the fight he would run the risk of dissent within UMNO with new general elections on the horizon. "Abdullah has learned that this is the way to do business in UMNO if you want to stay in power," contended Tian Chua of the opposition Justice Party.

If it all sounds familiar, that's because it is. Corruption and patronage within UMNO reached endemic proportions during Mahathir's 22-year rule. He sought through any means possible to catapult the nation rapidly to developed world status by 2020. If someone could get the job done - in business or politics - to Mahathir it often did not matter how as much as when. Those practices continue largely unabated under Abdullah's government, in part because their consequences are not readily visible.

Malaysia still makes a convincing show that economically things are humming along. In the capital city, shiny modern trams dart and slither between glass office towers. Well-groomed highways connect the peninsula's far corners. Unemployment is low. The state-run media gloss over government abuses to paint a picture of economic progress and social harmony. And the unquestioning feudalistic masses digest what they are fed by pontificating politicians.

All the while, however, Malaysia has seen foreign direct investment drop from $3.8 billion in 2003 to $1.4 billion last year. Leaders have struggled to come up with a new vision for the country, with grand pronouncements about becoming an agriculture, biotech and high-tech hub showing few signs of materializing. Meanwhile, corruption is also having long-term adverse social consequences.

Recent opinion polls prioritized the need to tackle graft above rising inflation and unemployment concerns. political analyst Bakri Musa recently noted on his blog: "We are sending precisely the wrong message to our people. That is, in order to succeed or afford a mansion and other trappings of the 'good life', we do not have to study diligently or work hard but merely ingratiate ourselves to the powerful in order to hog our own little spot at the public trough."

Abdullah's sagging anti-graft campaign promises to become a big issue at the next general elections, which some believe could be called in the coming months. The opposition Justice Party has promised to weed out corruption should it come to power, and it has singled out corruption issues as the main plank for building up its meager support base. Yet the party's figurehead, Anwar Ibrahim, has been curiously silent on allegations of corruption linked to Abdullah, UMNO and his family.

Despite his insistence to the contrary, Anwar may be looking to re-enter UMNO, the party he was ignominiously ousted from nearly a decade ago on charges of corruption and sodomy. Rumors abound that he has quietly been cultivating close ties with Abdullah in preparation for just such a move. Despite opposition grumblings and signs of business-as-usual, the general public has hardly shown a level of outrage over recent corruption allegations that would indicate they intend to abandon Abdullah or UMNO's ruling coalition at the next polls.

Ioannis Gatsiounis, a New York native, is a Kuala Lumpur-based writer.

(Copyright 2007 Asia Times Online Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)

"PM wants MPs of substance and quality"

2007-03-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

PM wants quality reps

Malaysian Prime Minister Pak Lah urged Barisan Nasional MPs to perform beyond the expectations of their electorate and become “MPs of substance and quality”.

Pak Lah told his MPs that they must always update themselves on issues concerning their constituencies as well as on national and global issues.

Tangga Batu MP Datuk Idris Harun said Pak Lah advised the MPs not to be emotional in putting forth their concerns as a lot of work could be done in a rational and professional manner.

“He said there would be 1,001 problems and these problems can never be solved all together but that we will be judged on how we manage them,” Idris said.

Regional and Rural Development Minister Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe said Abdullah told the MPs while they could be critical of the Government during their debate, they should not let their actions bring a bad image to the Government.

“He also told us that we should help maintain the ‘feel good factor’ among the people. He said the people had a wrong perception that the economy was weak and we have to explain to them the real situation,” Dr Tiki said.

"Anwar won't influence poll timing"

2007-03-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

[Source: theSun]

"The press conference is over. It is too late"

2007-03-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

[Source]

"Do I deserve this"/"Work With Me, Not For Me"

2007-03-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

Félicitations, Monsieur Grand Napoleon!

UPDATED: Question- How do you break into a new market with your motivational books? Answer: You give an award to the Premier of the country!

Sorry for not doing research earlier but a simple Google search reveals that this Napoleon Foundation is nothing but yet another self-help/motivation/MLM (call it what you want) foundation with the website name naphill.org (how apt-NAP hill...zzzzz...)

"...making the world a better place in which to live."

Getting rid of the award recipient would make a small part of the world called Malaysia a better place in which to live indeed.

So yeah, it's not that Napoleon, it's this Napeleon.

***

All hail to the Father of K-Economy, the originator of the phrase 'Petit Napoleon' (for imcompetent civil servants), and of course the F-I-L!

Abdullah Receives Global Leadership Award

PUTRAJAYA, March 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Monday became the first recipient of the Napoleon Hill Foundation Global Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding global leadership .

The president of the foundation, James Oleson conferred the award, a medal, to Abdullah at the Napoleon Hill International Convention 2007 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.

Foundation chairman Dr Charles Johnson said the award was to recognise outstanding global leadership and Abdullah had shown his dedication to the country's development.

"The prime minister has shown dedicated service for Malaysia's socio-economic development," said Dr Johnson in a message was read by Oleson.

Abdullah said he was overwhelmed and accepted the award humbly.

"Do I deserve this," he asked in his acceptance speech and the floor responded with "Of course".

The prime minister said he would not be what he was today without the support of Malaysians who were willing to work with him and not for him.

Napoleon Hill foundation is a non-profit educational institution based in the United States and dedicated to promote Napoleon's philosophy of making the world a better place to live in.

Dr Hill is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the century and his works have inspired millions worldwide to achieve greater success for themselves.

Abdullah said he was confident Malaysians would work with him to achieve what was best for themselves and for their country.

"Occasionally it may seem that we are not making much headway. Sometimes there will be setbacks.

"Transforming a nation and its people is never easy. It takes passion and perseverance. I know that my fellow citizens share this passion and perseverance with me," he said.

Abdullah said the government's policies of integration and inclusion would remain fundamental to their political and social strategies.

"Shared prosperity and equitable development in a competitive environment will also remain the bedrock of our economic policies," he said when touching on the country's multi-racial social contract.

He said there was no doubt that the government must improve their policies and prevent excesses in their implementation.

"Ultimately, it is our spirit, our faith and our values that will determine whether Malaysia and Malaysians can rank among the best in the world.

"I have every confidence that we have what it takes. But we must work hard, very, very hard, as Napoleon Hill would no doubt counsel us. In this, we will have our faiths and our values to guide us," he said.

Abdullah also touched on the country's National Mission, human capital development, public delivery system and Islam Hadhari.

-- BERNAMA

"85% of corruption allegations baseless"/"Police force has improved"

2007-03-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

Self-Prophecy

"Johari need not quit"

2007-03-07T07:42:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Pak Lah said Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum, who is facing allegations of corruption, need not resign while investigations are carried out.

Why?

"[because] This has been the normal practice," Pak Lah said.

How normal is normal? Isn't corruption normal? Mahathir said the Kubang Pasu divisional delegates were paid RM200 each to vote him (Mahathir) out. Is that normal too?

Asked whether Johari’s position as a deputy minister of Internal Security would complicate investigations by the police as the ministry oversees the police force, the prime minister said: "I was told by the Inspector-General of Police that the investigations have been handed over to the Anti-Corruption Agency. So there is no complication."

"It's just rumours, so only rumours, lah"

2007-03-06T07:41:00.000-08:00

PM denied Remarriage

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said reports on the Internet that he had remarried were only "rumours".

Pak Lah said: "It's just rumours, so only rumours, lah".

According to The Star today:

"... one blogger published a fictionalised movie poster with a picture of the Prime Minister posing with a certain "lady". Subsequently, the blogger posted his "wholehearted apology" which stated, among other things: "At this particular instant, I can only assume that the speculation is true until it is proven beyond reasonable doubt, fictitious."

"Have faith in KLSE"

2007-03-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

Malaysian stocks dips 173 point from Feb 23 High

Stocks Selling keep persists!

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index ended Monday 4.6 percent down, reaching its lowest level in nearly two months as selling persisted.

The index closed at 1,110.69, falling to its lowest since Jan. 12 from it's high of 1,283.47 on Feb 23. That's 173 points drop and losses of more than RM130bil.

MIMB Investment Bank analyst Lee Cheng Hooi said the index could fall further to 1,049 points and possibly test the 1,000 point level in the coming weeks if the sell-off continues.

But if the intention is to lock (migrant workers) up, it will not be acceptable."

2007-02-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

Report: Malaysian leader says no curtailing migrant workers' freedom of movement

The Associated Press

Published: February 22, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's prime minister said his government will not take steps to "lock up" foreign migrant laborers, news reports said Friday, following proposals by officials to curb workers' movements.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said concerns about crime involving foreign workers should be discussed further before any measures are implemented, The Star and the New Straits Times reported.

If any such step is "beneficial to all parties, including the workers, then there is nothing wrong in implementing it," Abdullah was quoted as telling Malaysian reporters during a visit to Indonesia on Thursday. "But if the intention is to lock (migrant workers) up, it will not be acceptable."

He said police efforts to regulate laborers' movements would violate the migrants' basic rights.

Abdullah's aides could not be immediately reached Friday for further details.

Relatively affluent Malaysia has long attracted migrant workers, many fleeing poverty, from countries including Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh and China. Many do menial plantation or construction work spurned by most Malaysians.

Some Malaysians have blamed foreign workers, mostly Indonesians, for crime and social problems. The government has said about 1.8 million foreigners work legally in the country, while an estimated 700,000 others lack proper documents.

Home Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahamad said last week his ministry intended to propose a bill next month calling for the confinement of about 2.5 million foreign workers.

Malaysian police Chief Musa Hassan said the proposal was meant to curb crime by monitoring workers' activities and restricting their movements.

He said foreigners committed 5,000 of the 230,000 crimes recorded last year.

Under the proposed legislation, the workers would not be allowed to leave their living quarters — usually makeshift housing within construction sites, hostels near factories or houses in oil palm plantations — unless they register with their employers, who would be responsible for their movements.

Malaysian and international rights groups have condemned the idea, saying it could appear to be racial profiling and worsen migrant laborers' living conditions.

"Stop Spying"

2007-02-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

PM: Stop Snooping

The man has spoken:

Click on image to read full article. [Source: theSun's frontpage today]

That goes for all of us out there...take it from da man...no snooping, okay! ;)

PM says NO to snoop squad

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said NO to a move by the Terengganu state government to set up a “snoop squad” or “informers” who would be rewarded for snooping and reporting “immoral activities”.

Pak Lah said: “There is no need for that. There were many more beneficial activities for Muslims that state religious departments could carry out.

"I don't remember taking any (such US$50bil) loan. And I am the Minister of Finance."

2007-02-19T06:57:00.000-08:00

Friday January 19, 2007

PM denies Malaysia borrowing US$50bil

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is not taking out a US$50bil (RM200bil) loan from overseas to finance the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

Tthe country had enough money to fund its national development projects, he added.

"I don't remember taking any (such US$50bil) loan. And I am the Minister of Finance.

"I know this question comes out because people are accusing us of not having enough money. We have enough money," he told reporters at a press conference on Friday after the 6th National Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council Meeting at Bank Negara.

Abdullah said that money had already been set aside for the 9MP.

To a question whether it will be funded internally, Abdullah said: "Yes, yes."

"Where do you hear such a tale from? Suka sangat dengar cerita ini. (People like listening to such tales)," he said.

Recently, a blogger claimed that "Malaysia was borrowing US$50bil without borrowing".

He said that the US$50bil purportedly procured from 25 prime banks was being channelled through a private limited company which would act as a front for the Malaysian government so that the country was not seen as borrowing US$50bil from overseas.

At yesterday's press conference, Abdullah also denied that the economy was experiencing a downturn.

"I am confident that the economy will be growing even more rapidly," he said in response to a question.

"Efforts to spur economy not sign of general elections soon"

2007-02-18T07:05:00.000-08:00

Election Is A Dish Best Served Hot

Despite denying it...

[Source]

But why these sudden 'hot dishes'?

[Source]

[Source]

"Our economy is getting stronger, be it in terms of foreign and domestic investments, or the share market."

2007-02-17T07:22:00.000-08:00

PM Self-Spin using new Linguistic Philosophy

PM Self-Spinning the Economy

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday that from what he read and the reports he received, the people were more confident that the economy would continue to grow.

"Our economy is getting stronger, be it in terms of foreign and domestic investments, or the share market. The share market remains active with the volume of shares traded reportedly high and the index, soaring. All this gives new hope to the people."

"In the past, they were worried about what would happen to our economy. From what I have read and reports received, they are more confident of the economic development [now]. Hopefully... work harder."

"For a country that is developing, definitely the people want success, progress, peace and stability. That is why it is important for us to understand our role and responsibility so that we continue to perform better."

Abdullah said every challenge comes with an opportunity. "If we want to grab the opportunity, then we must be ready to face the challenges. Face all obstacles with confidence because we are capable... we have the knowledge and skills to face all this."

Abdullah said research showed that the level of family comfort and convenience in the country stood at 8.2 out of a total of 10 while on matters relating to courtesy, Malaysians scored 7.2.

"NEP Is Only To Assist"

2007-02-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

NEP Not Permanent?

NEP Is Not Permanent?

[Source]

Awww....you have forgotten to care about your SIL's feelings....

[Source]

And your deputy? He said that there will be no time limit!

[Source]

Lmabyrinth of Corridors

2007-02-16T07:18:00.000-08:00

labyrinth of Corridors

Another Corridor in the pipeline and this time, it's for Sabah.

Since the first corridor of development was conceptualized in 1996 by Mahathir with little success, his successor, Pak Lah had mooted many more corridors.

Since the day when he came into power (1st November 2003), Pak Lah had began his premiership by restructuring the development plan for the nation and to re-aligned the economic development activities.

The newly appointed Prime Minister began his first mission by scrapping the RM14bil Double-track Railway project awarded by Dr Mahathir to MMC- Gamuda on the second-last day of his tenure (30th October 2003).

Many more projects were scrapped or postponed such as Putrajaya Monorail, Dedicated Highway from KL-Putrajaya (which was later resumed), Bakun dam, Crooked-Bridge, etc.

Pak Lah defended his actions by stating that he wanted to reduce foreign borrowings and free-up the tight cashflow the government was facing.

He was accused for being tight with money of which he denied vehemently. In an interview with CNN Lorraine Hann, He said he was only being frugal, that is, careful with money that belongs to the government of the people.

Ever since Mahathir launch his tirade on his successor, Pak Lah had been a changed person, in particular, with the economic management.

The acting prime minister had since then launched many super-corridors; only the Multi-Media Super Corridor is associated with Mahathir.

We now have, the Southern Corridor, which was initially named South-Johore Economic Region and have now been renamed as Iskandar Development Region of Johor which the government paraded would involved RM382bil development expenditure.

The Mentri Besar of Johor said that an initial RM60bil projects would be launched within the next few years.

Pak Lah had also launched the Northern Region Corridor encompassing Penang and Kedah.

The 2nd Penang Bridge which was initially scrapped (not approved) was launched under the 9th Malaysia Plan. The bridge project would cost about RM3bil to complete.

Apart from the bridge project, a monorail project worth about RM2bil was also on the pipeline and expected to be awarded soon.

There is also the Eastern Corridor that encompasses Pahang and Trengganu.

Pahang had slated a Multi-media Super Corridor that is analogous with the one in Cyberjaya. It was a great ambition but nobody dare to bet the timing of the initialization of the project as it would require multi-national corporations to invests multi-billions to ensure its success. Observing the progress of Cyberjaya, many investors are suffering from paranoia.

If that was enormous enough, the government continue to parade avalanche more of projects to motivate the people, in particular, UMNO leaders and detractors who were either siding with Mahathir or sitting on the fence.

The Nilai Vaccine facilities costing RM350mil was launched.

So far, nothing had happen on the ground, and we could only presumed that the investors may still be sourcing for funds or that the bureaucracy is holding them up.

Not enough? Many more mega news to roll.

The World Biggest Court Complex was paraded. It was situated in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur. It cost the government RM300 million.

Work on the project started in March 2004 and was scheduled to be completed in February 2006.

There is also a plan to set up a police station in the complex.

On 3rd Nov 2006, the government announced that RM100bil worth of projects would be rolled out soon.

10-high impact projects worth at least RM100bil are expected to be rolled out to boost the economy. These projects would involve fundings by private financing initiatives (PFIs). Minister in the PM’s department Effendi Norwawi said the government will seek the best source of fundings and the government would also consider foreign-currency dominated bonds as a source of financing.

So far, nobody heard about the funders and none of the projects had taken off. It probably was a premature announcement or it could be projects that were proposed by the private sectors, particularly from some multi-nationals corporation. I think the government should not try to include private companies' investment in their announcements as if it was an initiatives from the government. This had caused much confusions to the public and tend to feed us with illusionary hope and expectations that had so far being conjectural and illusory.

On 28th November 2006, there were far greater announcements.

The newspaper spinned: The Worlds Biggest Palm Oil Company merger was formulated.

Three of the country’s largest plantation companies are to merge to create the world’s largest plantation company. The three – Sime Darby Bhd, Golden Hope Plantations Bhd and Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd – along with six other public listed companies, either owned by these three companies or involved in plantations, will undertake a merger exercise worth RM31.4bil that would likely create the country’s fourth biggest company.

A Newco, Synergy Drive had proposed a material corporate exercise that would involve a change of business direction by the respective companies. Synergy Drive was registered on Nov 7, 2006, The rationale behind the move was esoteric. The three major companies in the exercise have a combined net profit of RM1.7bil and a land bank of slightly more than 600,000ha. These companies on its own merit had been successful and profitable. Nobody can understand why there's a need to merge such successful and profitable outfits. Someone must have a great dream to exorcised the billions in profit.

Big news and bigger news are now the spin of the day. Spinning the headlines again: Malaysia to built the World's Longest Undersea Power Link Project.

One of the country’s most ambitious projects — to lay undersea power cables from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia — may be revived. Costing RM9 billion, the cables will transport up to 5,000 kilowatts of electricity from the Bakun hydroelectric dam and two other new proposed plants in Sarawak from 2014.

The 670km-long network of cables would be the longest in the world, longer than the 580km line between Norway and the Netherlands. Dr Lim Keng Yaik said: "Coming so far from Sarawak, that means we have to invest in big cables. It is all economics, so we have to work out whether it is worthwhile but most certainly it would be after 2014 and beyond." "The cables will have to travel almost 700km from Bakun to the tip of Sarawak and another 670km under sea crossing Indonesian territory to Ulu Sedili before it is channeled to Yong Peng, Johor, where the national grid is located," he said.

Billions worth, everything now is billions, no more millions? Another RM15bil projects being paraded to the public.

Well, Pak Lah proved that he has the ability to outdo Mahathir. In Mahathir's heydays, the foreign press labeled him mega-project king-makers. Petronas Twin-tower was RM2bil, KLIA was RM9bil and Putrajaya was to be RM20bil.

The frugal man decides not to be frugal anymore. He too wants to leave a legacy - mega legacy - such that the people could celebrate his tenure (I hope that we are not celebrating a nation to be bankrupted).

Billions after billions of projects were announced. It keeps coming and it keeps spinning.

Nobody dares to predict when this spins would slow down.

That wasn't enough, we have another RM6bil agro sector goldmine.

Not enough to cause bulimia? Another RM10bil public transport project for Klang Valley. It keeps coming and gets scary, oh sorry, excited and sexcited.

Businessmen were getting sexcited by the behemoth and amorphous opportunities that will avail with these avalanche of billions. It seems the billions will continue to rain and won't stop.

Another RM40bil projects fast tracked!

The government keeps announcing the billions and each and every one of them are meant to be fast tracked.

Raindrops (of projects) keep falling on our heads...

Have you ever seen these rains?

It was unprecedented in the history of Malaysia's economy and even Mahathir was awed. Soros must have caught up with this news and probably that's the reason he visit Malaysia, not so much of his intend to pay a courtesy call to Mahathir, but maybe, to ask Mahathir to introduce him to Pak Lah. Sadly, Soros then discovered that Mahathir has no more influence over his successor. Soros would have got it better if he had visited Khairy.

Was that enough?

Well, I wanted to stop the billions here but there's still a few more interesting projects for the avarices.

RM600mil was allocated for Class F contractors. Nobody knows how many of these projects had been awarded nor is there a monitoring and tracking system for the public to view and kept informed. The system is transparent - cannot be seen!

Another RM800mil worth of contracts for 270 Penang Malay contractors?

The ministers had so much to announce and many wondered when did Malaysia had so much money to fund all these projects.

We can't stop this fun...I love billions. RM1bil shopping funds for Education Minister.

During Mahathir's time, we knew he borrowed extensively to fund the projects. In Pak Lah's tenure, nobody knows and the monies must have been pouring in from some guys...I wonder it's Bill Gates or Warren Buffett or LTCM. Probably I am wrong...it could be from Suharto's family or Marcos or Mugabe.

Another RM5bil project for Johor.MB for Johor said it was Raya Gift. I wonder anyone had received the Raya gift, if at all.

The RM5 billion South Johor Economic Region was unveiled by Pak Lah on Nov 4, 2006. Ghani said the people of Johor were blessed to receive such good fortune.

Another RM600mil highway for Selangor.

A new RM600mil highway project under the 9th Malaysia Plan to link the Kesas Kota Kemuning Interchange with the Federal Highway is set to roll out by next year. Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, witnessed the signing ceremony between the Government and concessionaire Projek Lintasan Shah Alam Sdn Bhd (PLSA) .

Another KL-Kuantan rail was approved by the cabinet on DEc 18, 2006.

If Pak Lah continues as PM for the next 19 years (so that he will match Mahathir's record of 22 years PMship), Malaysia would have the World largest network of railways.

There is already a rail project linking Malaysia-Kumming and another in Borneo, linking Brunei and Sarawak. The total worth will exceed RM200bil.

Of course there will be the Double-track railway which was terminated and will be revived.

Syed Mokhtar is seen smiling... his luck and good fortune had shine again.

Railway is transportation and lacks fun?

Well, don't worry. Effendi Norwawi is going to get Disneyland to come to Malaysia.

If Japan and HongKong can have Disneyland, why not Malaysia?

Disneyland owners must be damn excited about this prospect.

Malaysians would be, what Ghani called, Blessed to receive such great fortune. By the way, Johor was slated to have this project and it must have satisfied the MB.

There is also the West Coast Highway which would be another RM2bil project on the way.

Chan Ah Chai is waiting anxiously for the cabinet's approval and if he can have few rounds of golf with Pak Lah and a few teh-tarik sessions with EPU and Nor Mohamad Yakcob, then it would be a celebration for Talam who is now technically insolvent. IJM and Syed Mokhtar will be more willing to buy over Talam if this project is secured definitely.

Of course, we can't stop the celebration.

What more with Maya and the Maju.

This is the new RM400 million Palace Complex which was deemed necessary as the current Istana Negara is old and the place is too small for the King and his entourage.

But the King had to wait a little while as it will take another 3 years, god willing, to get the place ready. It probably won't be ready in 3 years as the contractor is an unknown and we have a historical record of projects delay. Matrade building was delayed for 7 years. It would be considered a success if this project can also be ready by 7 years delay.

Tanjung Tokong, a super fast track project!

UDA Holding Bhd will spent RM750mil for the redevelopment of Tanjung Tokong project and 2nd Finance Minister Nor Mohamad Yakcop had promised that it will be super fast tracked to complete within 6 years.

Constuction work was suppose to begin in October 2006 and the project is slated to compete by 2012.

So far, we have heard of nothing concrete.

In order to get all these projects off the ground, the nation may need funds to the tune of trillions.

An initial US$56bil (RM200bil) will be necessary. I am not sure how Pak Lah will get this RM200bil... Petronas may have to contribute probably half of it and Khazanah will need to contribute a quarter of it by way of foreign loans via bonds. The balance could be from taxation and duties. Customs department and IRB will be able to generate RM60bil and if that's not enough, the police could ship in by way of increasing the issue of summonses, and the local authorities could help raise funds from increasing the quit rents, assessment taxes, licensing and fees.

There is a sense of hope...Malaysia had achieved a trillion mark in trade and, of course, if the trade is up, taxes and duties will increase in tandem.

Again, observing the scenario, if Pak Lah is given another 19 years as PM, the trade may even increase to hundreds of trillions. I hope it will not be denominated in Rupiah.

I don't know whether we should cheers and sing a song, but I am anxiously waiting for informations on the progress of all these projects. The waiting game had been on since last year and till now, the signs are blur. Will we be kept blur-blur for another few years?

Well, why can't we be positive and have high expectations? My darling said: Sleep and don't bother as Chinese New Year is just 48 hours away and the many bosses I work with are still having problems in their collections. BTW, I received a bonus from my good boss...little but enough to buy myself a drink. Cheers!